Owen County Courthouse and Jail | |
 Courthouse in 2012 | |
   | |
| Location | 100 N. Thomas and 102 N. Madison Sts., Owenton, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°32′10″N84°50′15″W / 38.53611°N 84.83750°W |
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1857–58, c.1868 |
| Built by | W.C. Cook |
| Architect | H.P. McDonald |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| Part of | Central Owenton Historic District (ID84001893) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000937 [1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1976 |
| Designated CP | September 4, 1984 |
The Owen County Courthouse and Jail in Owenton, Kentucky was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. [1] The complex of two buildings also contributes to the National Register-listed Central Owenton Historic District.
The courthouse, whose main part was built in 1857–58, is described in its NRHP nomination as: "one of the finest of smaller Kentucky Greek Revival temple-form courthouses. The architect is unknown, and the style did form a kind of vernacular that might have allowed a builder to erect even so satisfying a design. The handsome cupola is rather more substantial than many, and the treatment of the panelled sides is simpler but perhaps more effective." One-story wings were added in 1868. [2]
The jail is a nearly cubic-shaped two-story building which faces east towards the courthouse from across N. Madison St. It is a "surprisingly charming jail", builtd during 1874 to 1876 to a design by architect H.P. McDonald. It is the first known design by McDonald and is Italianate in style; Italianate features include decorative brackets under its low hipped roof and arched tops of second-story window openings. [2] It was relatively "humane" in its design when built. [2]
In 1974 both courthouse and jail still served the county in their original purposes. [2]
