Happy first day of Preservation Month! Although I am not promising to write a blog post for each day of this month, I will strive to write several (short) posts, with the only goal of sharing some of the wealth of historic architecture spread across the state. Today I would like to give a shout out to all of the historic courthouses still standing in our county seat towns. The Fulton County Courthouse, in far western Kentucky, is a visual treat, and may be the only courthouse with such flamboyant and delightful Flemish gables.
The Fulton County Courthouse.
This is only the second courthouse for Fulton County. The first, built in 1845, was a modestly-sized frame building that was bursting at the seams with county business by 1899. I regret to say that adaptive reuse was not the choice of county leaders at the time. They decided it was cheaper to tear down and build new rather than expand the existing building.
Towers, towers, everywhere!
But, oh! What a building they got! The design of architect Frank P. Milburn of Columbia, South Carolina (a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky) was chosen in 1901. Milburn also designed the Bourbon County Courthouse in Paris, Kentucky.
The northeast tower (containing the clock) is the tallest and fanciest of the four octagonal corner towers.
The building contract went to W.H .Spradlin of Fulton (also in Fulton County, but not the county seat). His low bid of $20,250 was approved in January 1902, and he was required to finish the building by August 15, 1903. The final cost went up a bit, to accommodate red mortar and other changes made by county commissioners, but the job was done on time – and what was built is a splendid and solid building that gazes out from its hillside location over the Mississippi River.
There are three entrances to the courthouse.
The first time I saw the Fulton County Courthouse, I was struck by its detailing (brick, stone, arched windows – did I mention the corner towers?!) and imposing scale. I felt quite rapturous. I did not go inside (I always seem to be in a hurry when I am out wandering) but the experience of walking around the site (likely with my mouth open in slack-jawed delight) made an indelible impression.
Thank you for writing this! My great-grandfather, H.M. Kearby, was the county judge who got this courthouse built — it was one of his campaign issues — and his name is on the building’s plaque. It has always been a source of pride in my mother’s family.
I love Kentucky connections! It’s a fabulous courthouse – he would have had my vote.
As a reporter I covered a murder trial there in the 1980s.
What a gorgeous building! And I looked up Flemish gables and learned something new. Always admired them and never knew what they were called. Thanks!
I agree! I would love to go see it myself, in person.
Thanks, great description and anew destination for me.
I enjoy your articles and wonder are there photos included or am I just not getting them for some reason?
Yes, there are always photos! For some reason, the WordPress Plugin I use to send out emails with new posts fails to load photos for some folks. If you click on the title of the post in your email, it will direct you to the website version, where the photos can be seen. I am so sorry – I’ve been trying to figure this out, but since this is my “hobby” I haven’t been able to pinpoint the cause.
That’s one of the semi-standardized designs Milburn used. Variations stand in three WVA counties and in Grayson County, VA.