A community celebration is planned for August 30 and 31 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Putnam County Courthouse in Unionville. The event will feature a range of activities, including a special address and a rededication ceremony.
On Friday, August 30, a special guest speaker, Sandra (Munden) Karsten, will deliver the celebration address at 2:30 p.m. on the first floor of the courthouse. Karsten, a graduate of Putnam County R-I, is currently the Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety. She is notable for being the first woman to serve both as the Director of Public Safety and as the Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Following the address, an open house will take place from 2 to 4 p.m., featuring tours of the courthouse. Attendees will have the opportunity to view a timeline display that includes old photographs, a list of all elected officials, and records of improvements made to the courthouse over the years. Refreshments will be served, and ample seating will be available for those who wish to reminisce about the courthouse’s storied past.
The celebration continues on Saturday, August 31, with a cornerstone rededication ceremony at 3 p.m. This ceremony will be conducted by the officers of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Missouri, with assistance from members of Unionville Lodge No. 210 and Hartford Lodge No. 171. The Sir Knights of Ely Commandery No. 22 from Kirksville will provide an Honor Guard for the event. The ceremony is scheduled to take place outside on the northeast lawn of the courthouse, however, in case of inclement weather, it will be moved indoors.
The Putnam County Courthouse, completed in 1924 at a cost of less than $150,000, has been a significant landmark in the community for a century.
Putnam County Courthouse in Unionville, Missouri (Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)
