Posted April 28, 200916 yr This is the first of three southeast Ohio county seats I visited in one day last week. I had never been to Pomeroy (population under 2,000) -- indeed had barely been in Meigs County (passing through a corner on Rt. 32; a wrong turn on Rt. 7 to Tuppers Plains). But I was impressed by Pomeroy. Coming into town on a county backroad instead of Rt. 33 Walker Evans could've taken this during the earlier depression Impressive steeple. It popped up out of nowhere around a bend (not many straight streets here) Nice houses, on the edge of downtown But this is why I came. This is one of my favorite courthouses in Ohio. Not only is it unique in its design, unlike any other Ohio courthouse, but it is distinct in its setting, built into a river bluff. The three-story courthouse has a ground-level door on each floor -- a quirk for which it is known, in limited circles. (Pomeroy also is believed to be America's only town with no four-way intersections, according to Wikipedia.) Main Street, facing the river Main Street, looking upriver Courthouse from the riverbank Downriver Main Street and the dome Main Street again And again Banners on Main Court Street (even though it does not lead to the courthouse) looking from the river to the bluff. Downtown is two streets wide, between the river and the cliff Interesting joint on 2nd street The spires of 2nd Street, looking toward the courthouse One of the more-striking spires More on 2nd Formerly a Carnegie Library One of the churches on 2nd Street Sheriff's office -- again, one of the more-distinctive ones in Ohio Looking toward the river from one of the courthouse balconies. That's another nice thing about this courthouse: two sweeping outdoor staircases, with overlooks. And it's very public -- no metal detectors, friendly people, no questions as I poked around with my camera. And public restrooms (!) in the first-floor "Visitor Center" View from the upper balcony View of other corner. The newspaper office, The Sentinel, is to the right Same church as earlier, viewed from beside the courthouse Inside, looking out from the Court Grill. Live blues on weekends. Top-notch microbrews. Down the road a bit from Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch. I had the Famous Bung Town Burger (cheeseburger with cole slaw and grilled onions on Texas toast, named for a nearby village that had prohibition-era distilleries). The Indians game was on the tube. Inside. The bartender told me the place has been a bar for decades. When I commented on the back-bar, she said it was an apothecary cabinet, reflecting the storefront's original use. Home of one of Pomeroy's elite, high above the hoi polloi down along the river Across from the Court Grill Detail Another Courthouse view. Bye bye New and old bridge across the West Virginia. The middle span of the old bridge had just been leveled a day or two before, and there was more debris than planned, which backed up some barges MIDDLEPORT The new cable-stayed bridge from downtown Middleport, Pomeroy's Twin Town Interesting building. I don't know what the "locker" refers to Middleport's main drag Old Middleport mural
April 28, 200916 yr Oh my god. Pomeroy is beautiful. Thanks for the tour. Seriously, amazing little town. I LOVE this.
April 28, 200916 yr Pomeroy and Gallipolis are two of the more thriving towns along the Ohio River. Both are very quaint, comfortable to live in, and friendly. I've never met a nicer bunch of folks than in southeastern Ohio -- the kind that rallies around a community after a fire that devastates a neighbors residence, or a flood that overtakes a town, or a job loss. That is all but lost in larger cities and in many other parts of the state and country. No four-way intersections, you say? Um... :)
April 28, 200916 yr ^ This picture is taken from a parking-lot/park between the river and Main Street. It's not a through-street.
April 28, 200916 yr Delightful photo tour! I knew about the quirky courthouse, but had never seen such intimate coverage of the town. It's beautiful and still has the small-town charms and amenities that have faded from most places.
April 28, 200916 yr One of THE top courthouse towns in this state. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 29, 200916 yr Wow! Pomeroy is beautiful. I have heard and read some good things about Pomeroy, but I've never seen such an extensive photo tour of it. That Meigs County Courthouse is really amazing! In Southeastern Ohio, you can find some dazzling combinations of historic architecture, urban settings and natural beauty.
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