Montgomery County Courthouse - Independence Downtown Historic District ~ Independence, KS
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 37° 13.452 W 095° 42.262
15S E 260060 N 4123171
Remodeled in 1931, bell from tower now out front as a working display.
Waymark Code: WMNDY3
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 02/24/2015
Views: 3
County of courthouse: Montgomery County
Location of courthouse: 300 East Main Street (US 160), Independence,
Phone: Phone: 620-330-1070
Fax: 620-331-6120
Built: 1887
Clerk of the District Court: Bonnie James
The courthouse is building Number 12 on the NRHP nomination form
"The Montgomery County Courthouse was built in 1887 ad is owned by Montgomery County. The county commissioners designated Independence as the Montgomery Seat May 5,1870; this was confirmed by an election in November. In 1884 bonds were voted for the construction of a brick courthouse, jail, and jailer's residence on this site. The courthouse was completed December 1, 1887 at a cost of $54,156. In June, 1931, an overall redesign of the building began. At that time, the original clock tower and part of the west entrance was removed. The new design called for a new north wing. A veneer of smooth-cut Bedford stone covered the structure. When the remodeling was finished, the new appearance was praised. The remodeling cost $159,476
This building is an institutional building on the east half of the block. It is a T-plan building with a rectangular front block and rear wing. The building has two stories plus a basement. The jail is located above the rear wing. It features a flat parapeted roof, 1/1 double-hung windows, and metal entrance doors on the South, North, and Southeast sides. There is a furnace stack at the southwest corner of the rear wing. Decorative elements include the two main recessed entries ornamented with columns, copper transom grills, carved door frames and hoods, and a projecting carved eave cornice." ~ NRHP Nomination Form