For twelve years before (1821), when Pike County was first carved out of Illinois territory, the county seat was southwest of Hardin at Coles Grove for two years. Pittsfield was created to be the county seat in 1833. To explain this situation, look to early history of the area. It is the third courthouse in the town, but the fourth in the county. Pittsfield is not the first county seat of Pike County, nor is the red-domed courthouse the first in Pittsfield. In this building the county business is conducted trials held taxes paid births deaths, marriages recorded traffic tickets paid passport applications made dog licenses received records of land acquisitions and sales made and assistance for the poor given. The red-domes structure sits like a huge crown on the square block of green grass in the center of Pittsfield, the county seat of Pike County. Local Superintendent of construction H.J.Total cost of building and fixtures – $ 68,520.28.Cost of architects and Building Committee – $ 4,465.52.Cost of wood furniture, office furniture, and light fixtures – $ 7,482.40.Robert Franklin, Nebo, was the designer of keystone architecture.Architect Washburn designed the oak furniture in the courthouse.Ceiling over rotunda is of stained cathedral glass.Built of Cleveland sandstone veneering back by walls of brick.Courthouse is octagonal shaped outside, Cruciform inside.
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