Alamance County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Alamance County Courthouse
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Alamance County Courthouse and Confederate Monument
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Courthouse Square, Graham, North Carolina |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | Harry Barton |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | North Carolina County Courthouses TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001655 |
| Added to NRHP | May 10, 1979 |
The Alamance County Historic Courthouse in Graham, North Carolina, is a special building with a long history. It was built in 1923 and is still used today. In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
A Look Back: The Courthouse Story
Alamance County has had several courthouses over the years. Each one played a key role in serving the community.
Where it All Began: Early Courts
When Alamance County was first created in 1849, court sessions were held at the Providence Meeting House. Before Alamance County existed, courts from Orange County also used this spot. The very first court session for Alamance County took place in June 1849.
The First Official Courthouse
On July 17, 1849, leaders in Alamance County decided to build a new courthouse. They agreed to spend $8,000 on its construction. This new building would be in a 75-acre area, about 2 miles south of the Providence Church. This area would become the new county seat, Graham.
To pay for the courthouse, the county planned to sell land in Graham. They also collected taxes. These included a property tax of 35.25 cents for every $100 of property value. There was also a poll tax of 73.75 cents, which was a tax paid by each person.
The first courthouse was built with brick for $6,400 and opened in 1852. Later, in 1888, two new sections were added to the building. The outside of the courthouse was also covered in stucco. This building served the county for over 70 years. In 1914, a memorial to Confederate soldiers was placed on the courthouse grounds.
By 1923, the county leaders decided it was time for a new courthouse. The original building was taken down in November 1923.
Sesquicentennial Park: A Piece of History
One special part of the old courthouse that still exists today is its 400-pound bell. This bell used to hang in the cupola (a small dome-like structure) of the old building. Now, it's the main feature at Sesquicentennial Park in Graham.
This park was created in 1994 to celebrate Alamance County's 150th birthday. It's located in the northwest corner of the city's Courthouse Square. The park has the historic bell, along with plants, benches, and a metal frame over a red brick courtyard.
The Historic Courthouse: Our Current Building
The courthouse we see today, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, started being built in 1923. It opened to the public on November 23, 1924. The total cost was about $253,925.82.
This courthouse was designed in the Classical Revival style. It features terracotta stonework, decorative molding, and strong metal-masonry floors. When it first opened, the building held many different offices. These included the court system, county government offices, the sheriff's office, and state and federal offices. The original sheriff's office on the first floor has special shatter-resistant windows.
The courthouse stands in the center of Courthouse Square in Graham. It has parking spaces all around it. The north and south entrances have stairs leading up to the first floor. Each of these entrances has six tall Corinthian-style columns. These columns rise from the steps to the top of the courtroom windows. The north entrance is the only one open to the public and has a ramp for easy access, added during a renovation. This entrance also features the 1914 Confederate memorial.
The east and west sides of the courthouse have decorative columns and street lanterns. These entrances are mainly for courthouse employees. The east entrance also has a ramp for elevator access. The bottom part of the courthouse is made of granite, while the rest of the building is terracotta.
Inside, the courthouse has four floors. The basement holds offices and a small courtroom for civil cases. The first floor has the Clerk of Court's offices and a large open hall with beautiful hand-carved molding and granite floors. The second floor has offices, meeting rooms, and the main courtroom. This courtroom has theater-style seating for people watching the proceedings. The judge's bench is believed to be from the original courthouse. There's also balcony seating in the courtroom, which you can reach from the third floor. The third floor also has offices and meeting rooms. The ceiling of the courtroom on the second floor is made of silk. The Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The courthouse has been updated many times. In 1996, $1.2 million was spent to fix the roof and stop leaks. From August 2010 to September 2011, the courthouse had a big $3 million renovation. This project fixed water damage, improved safety, and made the inside look like it did in 1923. The courtroom's windows were uncovered and replaced with soundproof glass, letting in natural light to save energy. The building's climate controls were also improved. The reopening was delayed by a fire in May 2011, but the courthouse officially reopened on September 12, 2011.
To make things clearer, on March 7, 2011, the building's name was changed to the Alamance County Historic Courthouse.
Other Courthouses in Alamance County
As the county grew, more space was needed for the court system. So, Alamance County added two more courthouses over the years.
The Courthouse Annex was built in 1966 and opened in 1967. It is now connected to the Alamance County Office Building, which was built in 1974. The Courthouse Annex was updated in late 2009 and early 2010. It reopened in April 2010 as the Civil Courts Building.
Later, a new Criminal Courts Building was needed. Construction on this modern-style building began in 1992 and finished in 1993. It opened to the public on December 22, 1993. In 2010, this building was renamed the Alamance County Criminal Courts building. In 2017, it was renamed again to the J. B. Allen, Jr. Courthouse, honoring a former judge. The J. B. Allen building is also where the Alamance County War Memorial is located. This memorial honors soldiers who have died in conflicts since Alamance County was founded.
Temporary Courthouses
During the 2009-2011 renovations of the Historic Courthouse, the offices temporarily moved. They were located in the Youth Services Building, about one block west of the courthouse.
