Indiana County Courthouse Histories
- Results
Lawrence County
Named for: Captain James Lawrence - War of 1812, Final Words "Don't Give Up the Ship"
Organized: 1818
County Seat: Palestine, 1818-1825
Bedford, 1825
Number of Courthouses: 6
| Number | Years | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1818-1822, Palestine | Log | 20x24 2-story. Completed Late Fall, 1818 |
| 2 | 1822-1825, Palestine | Coffee Mill | Plan: Robert M. Carlton & John Lowrey. 45x45 $5500. Builder: James Gregory & John Anderson - January 1819, $3670.70. Finished by: Samuel D. Bishop. Occupied August 1822. $1791.37 |
| 3 | 1825-1934, Bedford | Log | 22x26 2-story. $500 |
| 4 | 1834-1872, Bedford | Coffee Mill | 45x45 Plans borrowed from Salem C.H. $5000. Builder: John Lowrey 5/3/1831. Accepted May 1834. |
| 5 | 1872-1930, Bedford | Castle | St. Louis Gray Limestone, i.e. 'Bedford Stone.' >$100,000. Builder: Thomas N. Stevens, Bid: $75,000. |
| 6 | 1930-Present, Bedford | Castle | Arch: Walter Scholar, $390,000 |
The first court met at the house of James Gregory in June 1818.
Palestine was abandoned do to recurring illnesses there.
The 1872 courthouse went through a series of plans, builders, and building locations starting in July 1869 before being finalized in 1870. It was not built in the same location as the 1834 Courthouse.
The 1930 Courthouse when built utilized the front wall of the 1872 Courthouse. The remainder of the old Courthouse was razed and a new building was built with significant expansion beyond the old foundation. It is said that the county did not have clear title to the land and if at any time no courthouse adorned the plot, title would revert to the previous owner.
The Bedford Courthouse was the last Courthouse built during the great Courthouse building period of approximately 1849 to 1930. Three Art Deco courthouses were built 1936-7 with some WPA funding, but no other Courthouse were built until 1959.
The Civil War Monument was dedicated in 1923.