Mississippi County Courthouse gets a facelift

The renovation project included a new museum-grade addition.

The Mississippi County Courthouse in Blytheville has been part of the framework of the community for more than 100 years and thanks to a recent project, the historical building will continue to be a resource for many years to come.

The project, which has been in the works for years, involved the restoration of the courthouse, along with the construction of additional square footage at the space.

Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson said the goal of the project was to create a museum-grade facility that can also be used by the community. Since the project’s completion, Nelson said he has only heard compliments and praise about the courthouse. He said pictures of the building do not do it justice.

When asked why the decision was made to renovate the historic building instead of constructing a new courthouse, Nelson said he feels historical buildings are an important resource for communities. The architectural elements of the building, such as the elaborate marble and limestone, also could not be recreated at a new courthouse.

“This endeavor will be a landmark in the history of Mississippi County. Preserving our past pays tribute to those who have come before us and leaves a message to those who follow. We take on this tremendous responsibility with highest respect. The citizens of our county have entrusted us with their hard-earned money to make those decisions that will prove to carry this project to a successful completion we can all be proud of,” Nelson said in a press release about the bond for the renovation.

The county bond totaled about $18 million, with $2 million going to improvements to the county’s second courthouse in Osceola. Since the Blytheville project came in under budget, the remaining funds will be used to make more improvements in Osceola, Nelson said.

Aaron Ruby, founder and firm principal with Revival Architecture, said his firm became involved in the project after submitting a request for qualifications prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff at the firm in Scott specialize in the restoration of historic properties, and they especially enjoy working on county courthouses.

Historic properties have unique limitations that are not involved in projects with modern buildings or new construction.

Ruby noted that historic buildings usually are not built to accommodate modern conveniences such as heating and air conditioning, so space is limited for ductwork and other equipment. Insulation is also usually not in place within the building walls.

The Mississippi County Courthouse, a Colonial Revival style building, was constructed between 1919 and 1921. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

According to the registration information filed with the U.S. Department of Interior, the courthouse was designed by the Selligman and Ellesvard architectural firm in Pine Bluff.

With this project, Ruby said his team was tasked with adding as much square footage as possible within the county’s budget.

“A lot of work went into something like this,” he said.

One new courtroom was added, and the original grand courtroom was restored.

The addition had to match the style, look and the location of the floors within the historic courthouse.

Top: The Mississippi County Courthouse, a Colonial Revival style building, was constructed between 1919 and 1921. The courthouse was designed by the Selligman and Ellesvard architectural firm in Pine Bluff. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Bottom: Revival Architecture of Scott submitted a request for qualifications prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm, founded by Aaron Ruby, specializes in the restoration of historic properties, which have unique limitations not involved in projects with modern buildings or new construction. For instance, Ruby said historic buildings usually are not built to accommodate modern conveniences such as ductwork and other equipment for heating and air conditioning. With this project, Ruby’s staff was tasked with adding as much square footage as possible, but the new addition had to match the style, look, and the location of floors in the historic courthouse. See “COURTHOUSE” on Page

“While clearly discernible from the original courthouse, the compatible addition makes use of similar materials and features while remaining