Interesting Facts About The Old Courthouse
Information taken from a pamphlet from the Johnson County Historical Society
Information provided by Donna Holt
Transcribed for the WWW by M.Antal

Construction of this Georgian or Federal style building was begun in 1838 just four years after Johnson County was created and 35 years after the Louisiana Purchase.  It is on a site chosen in 1836 by three commissioners, one of whom was Daniel Morgan Boone.
The building was used by Johnson County Government until 1871.  The Railroad came to Warrensburg in 1864, and the depot was built in the valley.  Businesses then moved and centered around the depot, and ultimately (1896) the present courthouse was built in that neighborhood.
After 1871, the Old Courthouse was used as a school, church, courthouse again for a year, and a private resident until 1965, when it was sold to the Johnson County Historical Society.  The building was paid for by voluntary contributions, while restoration was received two small Federal grants, more voluntary contributions, and a sizable bequest by the Lowe-Schwald-Innes Family.  When the present courthouse was redecorated, the original architect's specification for the Old Courthouse was found, so that the actual restoration is not guesswork.
Originally brick, the exterior was covered with stucco in 1867 and recovered in 1976 as a bicentennial project.  The fence follows the instructions for a "plain board fence" and mid-19th century photographs of similar Missouri Courthouses.  It is the gift of Mr. Byron Myers.
The stone sidewalk, curb, and brace on the East along the front of the building were built in 1860.  The brick sidewalk leading to the building was laid in the 1840's and remained buried from the 1880's to 1975.
While the east and south doors are reconstruction's, the north door is original and is a fine example of the Federal style.  Doors follow original specifications and coloring.  Metal locks are replicas of those used on contemporaneous public buildings.  Each has a brass escutcheon and large brass key.
The brick floor has been restored with square brick similar to those few remaining bricks there were found in the area.
The oak floor has been restored as per the architect's specification and is constructed partly of material used in the original courthouse.  It is of handmade tongue and groove burr oak.
The four fireplace on the second floor and the two on the main floor have been restored.  Andirons have been duplicated from the old Johnson County home.  Downstairs, two stoves furnished additional heat.
As candles furnished the only lighting available when the Courthouse was erected, two large walnut chandeliers holding candles have been installed.  Three small chandeliers are placed on the second floor.  All were made and donated by A. G. Taubert.  They are copies of those in the Old State House at Vandalia, Illinois, which was constructed in 1838.  Sconces containing candles have been placed at intervals on the walls.  Coal oil was not used until the 1860's.
The window casings are original throughout the building, and six of the window frames on the second floor are original.
The judge's bench is hand-crafted of solid walnut in the same design as the original, and is in the exact location.
A railing has been erected which separates the judge's bench, lawyer's table, and jury from the benches occupied by spectators.
The ceiling is the original and is constructed of walnut and has been repainted, as originally.  A small section over the stairway shows the bare walnut with the paint removed.
The plaster has been repaired without disturbing the original plaster.  More original plaster remains in this building than any other pre-Civil War building in the State.  The baseboard has been restored.
The stairway is in the original location and constructed of walnut with oak treads.  The first stairway was removed in 1867 and rebuilt on the outside of the building.  This was done because the judges complained of the confusion caused by the traffic going through the courtroom during court session.

UPSTAIRS
All flooring is original.  With random widths and lengths of the boards.  This is typical of a building of that period.  The walls and ceilings are also original.  The main north-south partition is walnut.
The rooms contained the petit jury, grand jury, and the clerk's office.  The petit jury rooms were used by the sheriff.  There is a hand-written sign "Sheriff's Office" on the wall by the door in the hall.  This was found when the wallpaper was removed.
Before public schools were formed, school sessions were sometimes held in the courthouse.  There are children's cartoons on the wall in the hallway and in the grand jury room.  Other graffiti may be of Civil War origin when the building was occupied by troops of both sides.
The fireplace hearths were built of sloping boards and were then filled with sand.  The sand was deepest close to the fire where the heat was the greatest.
In the main hall are cases containing exhibits about the happenings in the building and Johnson County history.

I recommend a tour of this courthouse.  If you stop in at the Heritage Library they will take you right next door for a small tour it costs about $3.00 I believe.  But one can find the tour highly informative.