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| N Augusta Street in Staunton, with the Augusta County Courthouse visible at right, in front of Barristers Row. |
Historic Courthouses and Courthouse Squares - Statewide
Significance: An
integral part of many historic downtowns, Virginia’s historic courthouses and
courthouse squares have served as community centers for centuries. Not only do
these structures represent the judicial system and the important cases along
with the individuals throughout our nation’s history, courthouses were often
the place for important announcements, auctions, marketplaces, weddings and
even duels.
Threat: As courts continue to require increased space and
security, preservation debates surrounding Virginia’s historic courthouses will
continue. Approaches to preserve these structures have varied across the
Commonwealth. Some communities have found innovative ways to preserve
historical integrity while also integrating necessary upgrades. Others have
built additions that overwhelm the historic complexes. Others still have
completely relocated courthouse functions, jeopardizing the sustainability of
the original complex and downtown location.
For example, the Augusta County Courthouse (1901) is threatened
with abandonment by the County government. Augusta County wishes to build a new
court system away from the traditional city center of downtown Staunton, which
will remove employees and potentially other related businesses, weakening
Staunton’s successful downtown economy. In Northampton County, a lack of
funding and the threat of demolition by neglect of the two historic jails (1899
and 1914) may undermine the value of the historic courthouse square.
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Rebecca Larys and Nan Bennett announce the thematic listing
in Eastville on
May 18, 2015 at the Northampton County courthouse
precinct.
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Solution: Preserving historic courthouses and accommodating
modern court needs requires a strategic balancing act. The integrity of
historic courthouses and courthouse squares can be maintained to help support
downtown economies. We recommend a comprehensive survey of historic
courthouses. This will help identify model approaches that are transparent and
include public input to ensure that the community’s values and economic impact
are reflected.
In the case of the Augusta County Courthouse, City and
County governments have been negotiating an agreement of mutual support. One
potential solution is for the County and City to pursue consolidation of the
courts now
serving the two jurisdictions. This solution, which may require
legislative approval, has potential to save funding and increase efficiency while
continuing court functions in downtown Staunton. Building upon the
feasibility study that recommended the re-use of the structure, with incentives
and utilization of the historic tax credit process, a universally-accessible
court system can be developed that will serve the county well. If needed,
additional room for court offices, court rooms and other functions is readily
available in adjacent historic and modern buildings.
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Frank Strassler, Executive Director of the Historic Staunton
Foundation,
announces the thematic listing on May 18, 2015 at the R. R. Smith
Center for History and Art.
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Update (7/15/15): Approximately 70 courthouses are listed individually or as contributing resources in historic districts on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. Although these distinguished resources serve as the center of government, they are threatened by time and the elements, as well as modernization and the challenge to meet the needs of the public in the 21st century. In addition to the examples mentioned in the listing itself, Dickinson Courthouse, Halifax Courthouse, and Charlotte Courthouse all face similar challenges. Since 2012, discussions have been underway between community members, local government, and historians to determine the best way to adapt the Thomas Jefferson-influenced Charlotte County Courthouse.
Selected Links:
Contact: For more information, please contact:
Lauren Gwaley, Associate Director of Public Relations and
Marketing, Preservation Virginia, (804) 648-1889 x304; lgwaley@preservationvirginia.org
(Augusta County) Frank Strassler, Historic Staunton
Foundation, (540) 885-7676, director@historicstaunton.org
(Northampton County) Joan Wehner, Northampton Historic
Preservation Society, (757) 678-5864; jhwehner@gmail.com
and Nan Bennett, Northampton Historic Preservation Society, (757)-999-1299; livnfat@baycrk.net
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