Quincy, Omaha and Kansas City Railroad Office Building - Milan, Missouri
Posted by: BruceS
N 40° 12.160 W 093° 07.409
15T E 489490 N 4450258
Historic former railroad office building then county courthouse and now museum in Milan, Missouri.
Waymark Code: WMH06V
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 04/30/2013
Views: 11
The building was completed in 1898 to serve as the headquarters and offices for a division of the Quincy, Omaha and Kansas City Railroad (QO&KC) The building was constructed to the specifications of the railroad but due to restructuring and reorganization the railroad never occupied the building. The two-story brick building is is without embellishment except for the Romanesque style main arched entrance.
The vacant building was finally put to use in 1908 when Sullivan County initially leased the building to serve as their temporary courthouse after their 1857 courthouse was destroyed by fire in July 1908. This was supposed to be a temporary courthouse however the building continued to serve as the county courthouse for the next thirty-two years. When it became apparent that a new courthouse would not build soon, the county purchased the building for $6,000. It served as the county courthouse until 1940 when a new courthouse was built.
After the county government moved to the new courthouse the second floor of the building was converted to serve as the county jail. The first floor was converted to living quarters for the sheriff and his family. The building served in that role until 1960. It was then vacant until 1964 when it was converted for use as a headstart facility. It served in that role for two years and then was used by a federal agency until 1985. This this time the county sold the building to the Sullivan County Historical Society. From that time on it has served as their headquarters and museum.
Street address: 117 N. Water St. Milan, Missouri
County / Borough / Parish: Sullivan
Year listed: 1992
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Historic function: Government
Current function: Recreation And Culture - Museum
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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