Courthouse Centennial kicks off

Michael and Diana Comer view the three portraits of the "founders of New Madrid County" -- Robert Goah Watson, John Hardeman Walker and Robert D. Dawson -- during the kickoff of the year-long celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the New Madrid County Courthouse. The portraits will be framed and be on permanent display in the building. (Jill Bock, Staff)

NEW MADRID - The kickoff of the celebration marking the New Madrid County Court House's 100th birthday came complete with cake.

County and city officials along with State Rep. Don Rone gathered Friday evening for the first of the activities commemorating the century-old building.

"The purpose of marking the centennial year is to remind all of us of the struggle to build this courthouse and how it has evolved to well serve the government of our county over the past 100 years; and, it will continue to do so for many years to come," said Riley Bock, chairman of the centennial committee.

Bock went on to point out two features of the courthouse - one old and the other added just recently.

He described the interior dome as the central architectural element of the building. The architects, according to Bock, incorporated an interior dome to give the building a feeling of being in a capitol building.

The dome of the New Madrid County Courthouse is one of its central architectural features and recently relit. (Jill Bock, Staff)

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