Oldest courthouses in the United States

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See also: Oldest buildings in America

Contents 1 The oldest active courthouses in the United States 2 Other active courthouses among the oldest in the United States 3 The oldest former courthouses in the United States 4 References 5 External links

[edit] The oldest active courthouses in the United States

(1) King William County Courthouse, Virginia. Built in 1725, this is the oldest courthouse still in continuous use in the United States.^[1] It is also the oldest public building still in use in Virginia. The courthouse is constructed of brick laid in Flemish bond. In 1840 the courthouse was enlarged and a brick wall was erected to enclose the court green and to keep livestock and poultry away from the buildings. A new and modern county courthouse was built upon the courthouse grounds in 2004; however, the 1725 courthouse remains in use for some of the county's judicial functions and proceedings.^[2]

(2) Old Salem County Courthouse, New Jersey. Built in 1735, this building is the oldest active courthouse in New Jersey and is the second oldest courthouse still in continuous use in the United States. ^[3] It was built using locally manufactured bricks and was enlarged in 1817 and 1908. It served as the courthouse for Salem County until 1969 when a larger and more modern facility was built for the county. Today it serves as the courthouse for the Salem City Municipal Court.^{[4] [5]}

Judge William Hancock of the King's Court presided at the courthouse.^[6] He was later unintentionally killed by British soldiers in the American Revolution during the massacre of Hancock House (New Jersey) committed by the British against local Revolutionary militia during the Salem Raid in 1778. The courthouse was afterwards the scene of the "treason trials," wherein suspected Loyalists were put on trial for having allegedly aided the British during the Salem Raid.^[7] Four men were convicted and sentenced to death for treason; however, they were pardoned by Governor William Livingston and exiled from New Jersey. The courthouse is also the site of the legend of Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proving the edibility of the tomato. Before 1820, Americans often assumed tomatoes were poisonous. In 1820, Colonel Johnson, according to legend, stood upon the courthouse steps and ate tomatoes in front of a large amazed crowd assembled to watch him do so.^[8]

(3) Hanover County Courthouse, Virginia. This courthouse is often cited as having been built in 1735, although it is dated by the state register as having been built between 1737 and 1742.^[9] It is the third oldest courthouse still in use in the United States.

This courthouse was the local county seat of lawyer and patriot Patrick Henry.^[10] It was in this courthouse that Patrick Henry argued the case of the Parson's Cause in 1763.^[11] A case involving King George III's requirement that Virginia residents pay taxes to support the local Anglican Church ministry over the objection of Virginia residents and the Virginia colonial legislature, Henry accused the King of tyranny in overturning colonial law without regard to the wishes of his subjects. The case and Henry's arguments are now regarded by many historians as one of the prelude events leading to the American Revolution. In 1774, the courthouse was the site of local preparation for the first assembly of the Virginia Convention and it considered grievances against British rule and the "Hanover Resolves" adopted at the meeting also supported the Boston Tea Party.^[12] A new and modern government complex with court facilities was constructed and opened in 1979 adjacent to the old courthouse. The old courthouse, however, is still actively used for periodic judicial proceedings to alleviate crowded court dockets at the new facility and also for handling ceremonial events. ^[13]

[edit] Other active courthouses among the oldest in the United States

Richmond County Courthouse, Virginia. Built in 1748, this courthouse, a fine example of early classical Palladian style architecture, remains the county courthouse to this date.^{[14][15] [16]} Richmond County, Virginia in the Northern Neck of Virginia is not to be confused with Richmond, Virginia.

Charles City County Courthouse, Virginia. Built in the mid 1750s, the courthouse was the scene of considerable fighting during the Civil War and many of its colonial records were lost. ^[17] Men like Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States, argued here. ^[18]

King and Queen County Courthouse, Virginia. The original portion of this structure was built around 1750. It has been rebuilt and remodelled extensively due to fires, including those set by Union forces in retaliation for a murder of a Union general by local Home Guard militia during the Civil War, and also expanded to accommodate growth in local population. A new facility was constructed in 1997 to handle the majority of the county judicial proceedings but the old courthouse remains active for handling court proceedings. ^[19][20]

Charleston County Courthouse, South Carolina. Built in 1753, it served as the provincial capitol for the colony of South Carolina with colonial court proceedings being held on the first floor. It was gutted by fire during the Constitutional Ratification Convention of 1788, leaving only the foundation, walls and doorways. It was rebuilt within the remaining structure in 1792 and, with additions and a recent restoration towards its colonial past, has served as the county courthouse to this time. ^[21] Among the trials held here were those of captured soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the famed black regiment of the Union Army in the Civil War, who were tried and acquitted of slave insurrection in November of 1863 following the Union assault of Fort Wagner. ^[22]

Sussex County Courthouse, New Jersey. Built in 1765, the courthouse was the site of a daring raid during the American Revolution by one of the Loyalists' best operatives, Lieutenant James Moody.^[23] In 1780, Moody led several men to free eight Loyalist prisoners held in the Sussex County Courthouse. Moody freed the men and fled with them. Despite a pursuit lasting several days, Revolutionary forces failed to capture them. The court was gutted by fire in 1847 and rebuilt within the original walls and structure. It continues to handle judicial proceedings in conjunction with a newer facility. ^[24]

Chowan County Courthouse, North Carolina. Built in 1767, it served as a local Whig center during the Revolutionary War.^[25] It is the oldest public building in North Carolina and one of the best preserved and majestic colonial courthouses of Georgian architecture in the nation.^[26] It served as a banquet hall when President James Monroe visited Edenton in 1819.^[27][28] Currently is serves for conducting county judicial proceedings in conjunction with a newer facility and also for handling other local government activities.

Fulton County Courthouse, New York. Built in 1772, it was requested and partially funded by Sir John Johnston, 2nd Baronet and the first judges presiding at the courthouse included Johnston and John Butler, both of whom later operated Loyalist brigades during the American Revolution such as the King's Royal Regiment of New York and Butler's Rangers. ^[29] The building is the oldest courthouse in New York and it still regularly functions as the county courthouse to this day.^[30]

New London County Courthouse, Connecticut. Built in 1784, it is the oldest courthouse in Connecticut. American Patriot Patrick Henry argued cases in the courthouse and other historical notables such as Daniel Webster, Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette and Horace Greeley spoke here. ^[31]

Shenandoah County Courthouse, Virginia. Built in 1795, this building continues to operate as the county courthouse to this day. ^[32]

Old Burlington County Courthouse, New Jersey. Built in 1796, its architect, Samuel Lewis, designed the building as a virtual identical twin of Congress Hall and Old City Hall, the buildings flanking Independence Hall in Philadelphia, of which he also built. The courthouse bell, removed and installed from an earlier courthouse, rang for independence in 1776. The courthouse continues to handle periodic judicial proceedings. ^[33]

Queen Anne's County Courthouse, Maryland. Built in 1796, it is the oldest active courthouse in Maryland.^[34] The earlier county court, built in 1708, still stands and is a museum.

[edit] The oldest former courthouses in the United States

The following other old courthouses still standing today exist as museums, for other government functions, or are now privately owned facilities.

In Delaware:

New Castle County Courthouse. (1732) This building was built over the remains of Delaware's first courthouse (1689) that was burnt by an arsonist and of which the foundation is still visible. It served as the county courthouse until 1881 when the county seat was moved to Wilmington, Delaware. The building was the center of the twelve mile circle that forms part of the boundary between Delaware and Pennsylvania. Today it is a museum.^[35]

In Illinois:

Cahokia Courthouse.^[36] This structure was erected as a private residence circa 1740 when the area was French territory. In 1793, the residence was purchased by the federal government to function as the court for the United States Northwest Territory. It also hosted territorial government activities. It is Illinois's oldest courthouse and the only surviving territorial court. The courthouse is architecturally significant as an example of the French Colonial vertical log poteaux-sur-solle (“post-on-sill”) construction technique.

In Maine:

Old Lincoln County Courthouse (1761). Judges and lawyers who served or appeared here include Robert Treat Paine, Benedict Arnold, William Cushing, and James Sullivan.^[37] Today it is a museum.

In Massachusetts:

Plymouth Courthouse (1749). Built of wood, it served as a courthouse until 1820. It also served local municipal uses from 1749 until the 1950s. It was opened as a museum in 1970.^[38]

Olde Colonial Courthouse (1772). Built of wood, court proceedings of the King's Court were interrupted in 1774 by James Otis, Samuel Adams and 1,500 other protestors opposed to the King's Bill of Attainder that denied the right of colonists to a jury trial.^[39] As a result, the King's judge decided to cease holding cases. It served as a state courthouse until 1838.^[40] This courthouse in now a museum and hosts the "Tales of Cape Cod" that aids the local tourist industry.^[41]

In Maryland:

Former Queen Anne County Courthouse. Built in 1708, it is likely the oldest courthouse still standing is the United States. Today the property is open as a museum.^[42]

In New Jersey:

Old Hunterdon County Courthouse (1793). Struck by fire likely caused by arson in 1828, it was heavily rebuilt using and incorporating the original walls. The courthouse was the scene of the trial of Bruno Hauptmann, the man convicted in the Lindbergh kidnapping case in what became coined as "The Crime of the Century" and "The Trial of the Century" in popular media and folklore at the time. Today it is open for tours including regular re-enactments of the Hauptmann trial and for ceremonial purposes.^[43]

In New York:

Bedford Courthouse (1787). Today this is open as a museum.^[44]

In North Carolina:

Old Carteret County Courthouse (1796).^[45] This is the oldest surviving wooden courthouse in North Carolina. Today it serves as a museum and hosts an interactive dramatization program that allows school children to conduct mock trials and reinactments for famous trials for educational purposes.

In Pennsylvania:

Old Chester Courthouse (1724).^[46] This is the oldest public building in continuous use in the United States. It is a handsome structure and a well preserved and valuable example of a colonial period stone courthouse. From 1724 until 1786, it served as the courthouse for Chester County, Pennsylvania and, after a county division, the courthouse for Delaware County, Pennsylvania until the county seat was relocated in 1851. Thereafter is served as the town hall for the City of Chester, Pennsylvania until the 1960s. Today it is used for miscellaneous city, county and civic functions. Colonists assembled here for the Havana raid during the War of Jenkins' Ear. The courthouse was a scene of the reading of the Declaration of Independence following its announcement in Philadelphia and the court's bell, which is still in its cupola, rang to announce independence. Several prominent legal and political figures argued at the court, including Thomas McKean, signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette was hosted and honored here. It was the site of the tragedy story of the trial and hanging of Elizabeth (Harriot) Wilson and the resulting story of the Pennsylvania Hermit, William (Amos) Wilson.

Old Greene County Courthouse (1796). This structure, now a museum, shows a good example of an early wooden log cabin courthouse.^[47]

In Virginia: ^{[48][49][50][51]}

Old Essex County Courthouse (1729); Old Northampton County Courthouse (1731); Old Middlesex County Courthouse (1745); Old Isle of Wight County Courthouse (1750s); Old Gloucester County Courthouse (1766); Williamsburg-James City County Courthouse (1771); Old Russell County Courthouse (1799); Old Fairfax County Courthouse (1799).

[edit] References

[edit] External links