Randolph County - American Courthouses

Randolph County is named for John Randolph, who was a leader in Congress from Virginia and spokesman for the “Old Republican”.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Macon County

E – Monroe County and Audrain County

S – Boone County and Howard County

W – Chariton County

Created: January 2, 1829

County Seat:

Huntsville 1829 – present

County Courthouse (demolished) – Huntsville

Location: 110 South Main Street / East Depot Street

Built: 1883 – 1884

Style: Renaissance Revival

Architect: James McGrath of St. Louis

Contractor: J M Hammett and W T Rutherford and Company

Description: The building faced southwest and was a one story red colored brick structure. The building was located on landscaped grounds in the center of Huntsville. The building was 104 feet by 46 feet. A one story wing extended southeast. The southwest front had three large arches with the center arch containing the entrance. There were extensions on the north and south sides. The roof line was flat. The courtroom was located in the building. In 1937, the building was remodeled under the Work Projects Administration. The building suffered fire damage on July 10, 1955 and the second story was removed. The contractor was Wisdom Brothers Construction Company. The building was sold to the City of Huntsville and was demolished in 2018.

Note: In 1955 the cost of the repair work was $71,962. The second-story walls were torn down, a new roof put on and the first floor remodeled. A vault room was added, as well as the new courtroom, which was most recently used as the County Assessor’s office. While the courthouse was being rebuilt, the county offices operated out of the upper story of a drug store across the street.

County Courthouse – Huntsville

Location: 372 Highway JJ / Adah Street

Built: 2014 – 2016

Style: Modern

Architect: N Form Architecture of Springfield

Contractor: Little Dixie Construction Company of Columbia

Description: The building faces north and is a two story buff colored stone, glass and concrete. structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on spacious landscaped grounds to the southeast of the center of Huntsville. The north front has large glass paneled sections with central glass paneled central entrance. The roof line is flat. In the interior are wide hallways. On the first story is the County Circuit Court courtroom and a small County Circuit Court courtroom. On the second story is another small courtroom. The building houses the County Circuit Court 0f the 14th Judicial Circuit..

See: The 14th Judicial District includes Howard County.

History: The county was created in 1829 and Huntsville was selected as the county seat. The first court met in the home of Blandeman Smith and in the home of William Goggin. The first courthouse was a two story brick structure built by Henry B Owens on the public square with William Lindsay as superintendent in 1831 at a cost of $2,400. The courthouse was razed in 1859 and the second courthouse, a two story brick structure, was built in 1858 to 1860 by Henry Austin at a cost of $15,000. The building was enlarged and renovated in 1877 at a cost of $9,979. The architect was C B Clarke of St. Louis and the contractor was Sandison & Murray of Huntsville. The building burned on August 12, 1882. The third courthouse was constructed in 1883 to 1884 and is still standing. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 2014 to 2016 at a cost of $7,000,000.

Moberly Courthouse – Moberly

Location: 233 North William Street / West Coates Street

Built: 1904 – 1905

Style: Renaissance Revival

Architect: James A Wetmore

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces east and is a one story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Moberly. The east front has a central entrance with canopy. A projecting cornice runs below the flat roof line. On the west side is red colored brick addition. In the interior is one courtroom., The building formerly held the criminal court. The building was returned to the City of Moberly and presently stands vacant. The building was originally constructed as a post office. The county occupied the building in 1961.

History: The first courthouse in Moberly was located on the upper story of a building at the north corner of Fourth Street and Reed Street. The court moved to the Monitor-Index Building. The premises were remodeled in 1949. In the 1961, the court moved to the old Post Office building on William Street. In 2016, the building was transferred to the City of Moberly and the court moved to the new courthouse in Huntsville.