Belmont County Courthouse
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Belmont County Courthouse
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The Belmont County Courthouse in St. Clairsville, Ohio
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| Location | E. and W. Main St. between Butler and Sugar Sts., St. Clairsville, Ohio |
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| Coordinates | 40°4′50″N 80°54′6″W / 40.08056°N 80.90167°WCoordinates: 40°4′50″N 80°54′6″W / 40.08056°N 80.90167°W |
| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | Yost, Joseph Warren |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Part of | St. Clairsville Historic District (#94000246) |
| Added to NRHP | March 17, 1994 |
The Belmont County Courthouse is located at 101 West Main Street in St. Clairsville, Ohio, United States. It sits on the highest point in the St. Clairsville area and is thus visible from Interstate 70 and many other points in the Ohio Valley. It is a contributing property in the St. Clairsville Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
Belmont County was formed in 180. The county seat was Pultney, now called Shadyside. This courthouse was a simple two-story brick building, and was only used for a few years until the county seat was removed to the more central St. Clairsville.
St. Clairsville was a developing community along the National Road and the courthouse was planned along this road. The courthouse constructed in 1805 was a log structure standing two stories high. It cost the county just over $1,000. When this building was destroyed, a new courthouse rose from its site. This new building was made of brick in the popular Federal style in 1815. The new courthouse stood two stories high and had long rectangular windows lining the facade. A cupola rose from the pitched roof. This courthouse served the county until 1885.
The new courthouse built between 1885–1888 was designed by noted Ohio (and later New York) architect, Joseph W. Yost, who also designed the similar Miami County Courthouse built at the same time in Troy. The three-floor Second Empire building hosts many county functions. It contains three courtrooms, the county commission meeting room, and offices for county officials.
The three-story building is constructed of rusticated sandstone blocks with high arched windows. The building is rectangular with a central projection housing the entrance. The stairs once led to the main entrance, but due to security measures the building is now entered through a tunnel under the stairs. Above the stairs is a false balcony supported by Corinthian columns. A pair of arched windows are flanked by a set of Corinthian pilasters supporting a pediment and a frieze bearing the year "1886" in the center with a fanlight above. The central projection is topped with a pediment with a circle light framed by a carved wreath of flags. Standing guard over the entrance is a statue of Justice.
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