Gov. James Clark Judicial Center - Winchester, KY
Posted by: 
vhasler
N 37° 59.598 W 084° 10.656
16S E 747846 N 4208831
Marker in front of the Clark County attorney's office
Waymark Code: WM5YAW
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 03/01/2009
Views: 14
Sign text:
On this site, John Ward, a trustee for the new town of Winchester, operated a tavern in the early 1800s. The property later became the Sachett Academy for Girls. In 1845 the First Christian Church erected a brick church here which burned during the winter of 1907-08. The lot was purchased by the Federal Government and the present structure completed in 1912. It served as a United States Post Office until 1988. After extensive renovation by the county, including construction of an addition on the east side, the building was returned to service in 1991.
The building is named in honor of Gov. James Clark in recognition of his distinguished service as a jurist. As a circuit court judge, Clark declared Kentucky's replevin law unconstitutional on May 13, 1822 ensuring fiscial responsibility in Kentucky and requiring that legal debts be paid.
In addition to service as a circuit judge, Clark, who opened a law office in Winchester in 1798 served two terms in the Kentucky House, two years as a judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, five terms in Congress, and in 1832 was elected to the Kentucky Senate, and chosen its speaker in 1835.
Elected Kentucky's 12th governor in 1836, Clark died Aug. 27, 1839 in office in Frankfort. He is buried near his beloved Holly Road, the home he constructed in 1814.
A wordy sign like a lawyer and politician. Signs of History category rejected the waymark in 2020 as now accepted by Kentucky Historical Markers category.