Callaway Justice Center History

In 1821, the county seat was established in Elizabeth, MO (a town that no longer exists), and the first circuit court was held in Brite's tavern. After Fulton became the county seat of Callaway in 1825, but before a courthouse was actually constructed, a circuit court was held in the tavern of Joseph T. Sitton. A public square was established, which became the location for the next three courthouses. Callaway County's first courthouse was built in 1827-1828, made of brick, and cost $1,300. S.J. Ferguson built the two-story, 36-foot-square building, described as a "model of neatness, comfort, and convenience." The second courthouse was designed by George W. Braley and built by Alfred Moore in 1856 for $17,850. This courthouse had a west-facing entrance with six columns, whereas most Missouri courthouses had four.

The third courthouse was dedicated on March 18, 1940, and among the dignitaries at the ceremony was U.S. Senator, Harry S. Truman. Architects E.C. Henderson, Jr. and Paul Elsner prepared the plans for this three-story building with a jail. The Federal Public Works Administration paid for $102,000 of the total cost of $227,000, with the remainder being paid by a county bond election. J.E. Hathman contracted and built the 134-by-80 foot, three-story, brick and stone structure, with the principal entrance facing north. On the exterior of the courthouse, there are eight medallions carved into the building, representing eight events in Callaway's history. In 1996 a major $2 million renovation began and paved the way for continued judicial practice into the 21st Century. This was not the only renovation, in January 2011, a new hearing room was added to the first floor and hi-tech sound systems were installed. The third Callaway County Courthouse was a multi-use facility housing not only the court but many other county offices as well, which included the county auditor, clerk, prosecutor, recorder, treasurer, and the Callaway Commission, just to name a few. As Callaway continued to progress, it became apparent that services provided by the court would require more room.

Construction of the Callaway County Justice Center began in 2021, and although it was open for the public on May 9, 2023, the grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony took place May 31, 2023. This modern building became the new venue for the court, circuit clerk, prosecutor, and juvenile office. The $12,995,745.24 three-story building was planned by the architectural company N-Form Architecture. Maintaining the Brick District standard, this 31,700 Square Foot building consists of brick, placed not only for structural stability but also to present art in architecture, exemplified in the portrayal of Callaway County on the north side. This was not the only Callaway-shaped art displayed at the Justice Center; Judge Sue Crane had designed and donated a Callaway photo mosaic, which can be found in the first-floor hallway. Aside from aesthetics, practical benefits from the Justice Center include four technology courtrooms, with built-in video conferencing and evidence presentation, as well as enhanced security systems. The Callaway County Justice Center was built to allow for expansion, enabling it to serve the community for years to come.

Special thanks to the following, for their assistance with historical and architectural information.

Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society