McDowell County Courthouse

The McDowell County Courthouse is a three-story judicial building with yellow brick walls and Neoclassical design, located in Welch. The structure features a centered main block with balanced wings on each side that reflect formal architectural principles of its era.

Architect Frank Pierce Milburn designed the building, and it has shaped Welch's public landscape since its completion. The structure became tied to violent events that escalated labor struggles in West Virginia during the early twentieth century.

The courthouse serves as a gathering point where community members have conducted public business for generations. Its location in the town center reflects how judicial buildings became anchors that shaped local life and identity.

The building sits in downtown Welch and is easy to find from the main street. Keep in mind that this is an active courthouse where access may be restricted outside of public proceedings.

On August 1, 1921, gunfire on the courthouse steps claimed the lives of two officers. This shooting became a turning point in regional mining conflicts and remains part of local memory.

Location: Welch

Inception: 1893

Architects: Frank Pierce Milburn

GPS coordinates: 37.43250,-81.58417

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:26