I rolled into Union, the county seat of Franklin County, on a quiet afternoon last Saturday and took a look around.
Union, like Washington to the north up Route 47, has seen explosive growth in the last thirty years as an exurban community in the larger St. Louis Metropolitan area, so there is a lot of development out along the highways, but in the case of Union, there are not many businesses downtown anymore.
There are twin domed government buildings on the east side of the square which look really nice, and I like the visual balance they create.
The courthouse itself is really nice. Designed by the St. Louis firm of Bonsack and Pearce, it was built in 1922, and is the fourth courthouse in Franklin County. It was budgeted for $155,250 but ended up costing $200,000.
It is ninety foot square and has four identical portals on each of the four sides.
