As the village of New Lexington grew in importance, its residents began to agitate for the county seat to be moved to their community. From 1851 to 1859, the state legislature passed three separate laws to permit the county seat to be moved; contentious elections and a decision by the Supreme Court of Ohio saw the county seat move to New Lexington, back to Somerset, and finally back to New Lexington.Thrane, Susan W. County Courthouses of Ohio. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2000, 119. After it ceased to be used as a courthouse, the building was leased to Somerset for use as its village hall.Borchers, Perry E. Written Historical and Descriptive Data: Old Perry County Court House, Historic American Buildings Survey, 1959-06, 1. Accessed November 24, 2012.
As the village of New Lexington grew in importance, its residents began to agitate for the county seat to be moved to their community. From 1851 to 1859, the state legislature passed three separate laws to permit the county seat to be moved; contentious elections and a decision by the Supreme Court of Ohio saw the county seat move to New Lexington, back to Somerset, and finally back to New Lexington.Thrane, Susan W. County Courthouses of Ohio. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2000, 119. After it ceased to be used as a courthouse the building was leased to Somerset for use as its village hall.Borchers, Perry E. Written Historical and Descriptive Data: Old Perry County Court House Historic American Buildings Survey, 1959-06, 1. Accessed November 24, 2012