Juvenile Office
A portion of the current office was occupied by the Butler Public Library. The front portion was the men’s restroom and storage.
The sheriff’s locked evidence room also was part of the men’s restroom.
License Bureau
In the 60’s the Surveyor’s Office occupied the current License Bureau.
Later on in the 60’s Lois Hendrickson, the appointed fee agent for the Motor License Bureau, moved the License Bureau from the Firestone Store, on the west side of the square where she originally operated it across the street to the basement of the courthouse. The License Office door opens onto the driveway on the southwest corner. Not only did she relocate the office, she also took along the cabinet and counter designed and built for her by Hap Clark. The cabinet is still in use today and the office still operates at this location.
Public Restroom Area
You may have noticed if you ever visited the ladies lounge you might remember Dortha Jackson the matron. She maintained the ladies lounge and you could always come by and rest in the rocking chairs or play checkers. You could also view and purchase the aprons, crocheted items and other handmade items.
Courthouse Lobby
The mural on the wall was painted by Dan Brewer, local Butler artist. The first Bates County Courthouse was located in Papinville. It was completed in 1855. In 1856 the county seat was moved to Butler.
County Clerk’s Office
In past years the deputies’ desks were located in the back part of the office and the County Clerk sat out front.
Assessor’s Office
The Magistrate Court occupied this office until 1982. At this time the elected office of Assessor was created and still occupies the office.
Surveyor’s Office
The Surveyor first occupied the current license bureau. It then moved in 1970’s to north end of the 2nd story hall. It then moved to the current location, which was also the County Superintendent of School’s office.
Bailiff/ Crime Victim Advocate Office
The Selective Service occupied this office for many years where many young men and women enlisted for the military. 1971 this office was vacated and then Prosecuting Attorney moved into this office. This office was remodeled and currently is the bailiff and crime victim advocate’s office. This office was one big office in past years.
Circuit Clerk’s Office
This office has always been the Circuit Clerk’s Office and it holds records back to 1865 and you have an index book back to 1858. In the 1970’s there was a hallway between the Circuit Clerk’s Office and the judge’s office that was closed in.
The auxiliary courtroom was originally the court reporters office. It was vacated for some time before the Juvenile Office moved in. After the Juvenile Office moved to the basement the room was converted to the auxiliary courtroom.
Associate Court
In 1982 the Associate Probate office was moved to this location when the jury room and offices were remodeled.
The room that now houses the elevator and the room to the west were originally the Juvenile Office. When the Juvenile Office moved to the auxiliary courtroom the Magistrate/Probate moved to this location.
We have been told that John William Cook and Minnie A Foster were the 2nd couple to be married in the courthouse by the Justice of the Peace on 9-11-02. This is Leroy Cook’s parents.
Prosecuting Attorney's Office
It was formerly the Sheriff’s office. In later years the Prosecuting Attorney and Sheriff switched offices.
The attic was occupied by the county nurse. The stool and sink are still located there. We were also told the Missouri State Highway Department Surveyor’s Office was in the attic in the 1950’s until the early 1960’s. Lester McMurhpy and Monty Schwander were some of the employees who climbed all the stairs for years. Monty during his lunch hour would come down the stairs and listen to the court procedures. There are old county records stored there also. There are stairs going all the way to the clock tower. - Courtesy of Marlene Wainscott
