Overview

The Perry County Courthouse in New Lexington, Ohio – an 1887 Richardsonian Romanesque landmark designed by Joseph Yost – stands as a monumental three-story stone structure anchored by a 40-foot central clock tower. Although the building had experienced incremental changes over time, many of its simple yet dignified interior volumes and details had survived. A comprehensive $19 million, two-year renovation has now restored the courthouse to its historic prominence while thoughtfully adapting it for modern judicial functions. The project included extensive exterior restoration of the building envelope: replacement of non-original doors and windows with historically appropriate ones, full masonry repair, and a new roof. The 18,320 SF interior received an equally transformative renovation: non-court functions were removed, allowing each floor to be dedicated to one of the county’s three courts. Today, the courthouse provides modernized courtrooms, offices, restrooms, and fully accessible circulation while celebrating the county’s heritage through the preservation of handcrafted historic features.