| The Mitchell County Courthouse was
completed in 1901 at a cost of $38,310. It was called the Queen Mary
of Courthouses in Kansas, being built of pitch-faced limestone in
the Richardsonian Romanesque design.
In 1904, the Seth Thomas four-faced clock was installed
in the Courthouse tower and was paid for by donations. Originally,
it was wound by hand once a week, a task that took 45 minutes to
accomplish. It was converted to electricity in 1950.
The building contains 25 rooms on three floors. In the
halls, the original stone floor tiles, decorative metal ceiling and
early embossed wall coverings are visible. The original ornate
fireplaces can be seen in several offices.
The Courthouse was listed on the National Register of
Historical places November 23, 1977. |