Second Place: Mason Miller- Elementary School, Harlan County Courthouse
The Harlan County courthouse symbolizes “the Spirit of Home” for our community. The courthouse is a two-story stone structure with huge stone columns facing Central Street. The courthouse is where our marriage records, wills, and deeds are kept. It also has memorials for our miners and soldiers.
Today the courthouse has offices for the elected county officials. From 1930 to1933, it was my great-grandmother’s home. Her father, Leslie Ball, was Jailer of Harlan County at that time. They had an apartment on the second floor. Before he was jailer, he was the sheriff, which was a dangerous job. He took the job as sheriff after his brother, Sheriff Floyd Ball, was murdered.
My great-grandmother, Lucy Ball Roark, has passed away, but my grandmother showed me a video of her 70th birthday where she spoke of her childhood in the courthouse. When her family moved into the courthouse she was very close to my age. She had three older sisters that were married. She had a younger brother in kindergarten and a three year old sister that required a fulltime babysitter. Lucy loved the wide open spaces of her new home. She enjoyed roaming around the courthouse and playing with children on the courthouse lawn who came with their parents. At the end of the day when the courthouse closed, Lucy would have tea parties with the cooks and play on the mahogany stairways. This was also the first time in her life she had electric lights.
Jimmy Piper, architect for the renovation of the courthouse, provided me with historical documents describing the building of the courthouse. The Harlan Enterprise bragged upon its completion in 1922, “It is one of the handsomest temples of justice in the state. Neither Louisville, nor Lexington, nor Paris, nor Covington has a courthouse so magnificent in architecture, nor so elaborate with modern conveniences. It is an imperishable monument, logically, to the citizens and officials of the county who first agitated it’s construction, and practically an eternal advertisement of the wealth of Harlan County.”
Joe Grieshop, Harlan County Judge Executive, has said that the renovations have included a new roof and windows that have made the building more efficient. After exterior renovations are complete, Grieshop said he plans to turn his attention to the interior of the building. He said that the historical value of the structure made the approximately $900,000 renovations necessary. The renovations are being paid for by coal severance money. “If you don’t do maintenance on it from time to time, we will lose the building, a focal point of our community.” He said.
The courthouse makes the people of Harlan feel at “home.” Both the District and Circuit Courts have moved to the new Harlan County Justice Center, but the old courthouse continues its responsibility to the people of Harlan. Its unique spirit is alive with memories of all that have passed through its doors. Its preservation will provide jobs and services to the people of Harlan for generations to come.
This essay and photograph are the property of Preservation Kentucky, Inc. and Kentucky Heritage Council and that any use of the photo or essay must be approved by PK and KHC.