Cherokee County Courthouse (North Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cherokee County Courthouse
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Cherokee County Courthouse from Peachtree Street
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Peachtree and Central Sts., Murphy, North Carolina |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | James J. Baldwin |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | North Carolina County Courthouses TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001692 |
| Added to NRHP | May 10, 1979 |
The Cherokee County Courthouse is an important building in Murphy, North Carolina. It's located at the corner of Central and Peachtree Streets. This is the main building for the local government and courts in Cherokee County.
The courthouse was built in 1926. It was designed by an architect named James J. Baldwin. The building has a style called Classical Revival. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. It's made of blue marble. This special marble came from local mines right in the area.
The building has two stories. Its front has a grand entrance with four tall columns. These columns are in the Corinthian Greek style. On top of the building, there's a large dome. A copper lantern used to sit on top of this dome.
Contents
About the Courthouse Building
The Cherokee County Courthouse is a very impressive building. It has a unique design. The front of the building faces the street at an angle. This creates a special entrance.
Inside the Courthouse
Inside, the courtroom still has many of its original wooden details. It also has its original stone designs. Around 2011, the courthouse was updated. This made the inside more modern. Some original features were changed during this update. More courtrooms and offices were added. These new parts were built at the back of the building. An old jail from 1922 was taken down to make space for these additions.
The Copper Lantern
The copper lantern on top of the dome was removed around 2017. It needed important repairs. The lantern was old and had some damage. It was in danger of falling apart. Many local people and groups helped fix it. This included the County Board of Commissioners. The Tri-County Community College Welding Department also helped.
History of Cherokee County Courthouses
Cherokee County has had several courthouses over the years. Some were destroyed by fire. Others were replaced by newer, better buildings.
First Courts and Buildings
The very first courts in the county were held at Fort Butler. This fort was a holding area for the Cherokee people. This happened during a sad time known as the Trail of Tears. In the 1830s, many Native Americans were forced to move from their homes.
Around 1840, the first brick courthouse was built. It was on the main public square. A well-known merchant named Archibald Russell Spence Hunter helped build it. Sadly, this courthouse burned down in 1865. This happened right after the American Civil War ended.
Later Courthouses
The third courthouse was also made of brick. It had two stories and was square. But the county quickly grew too big for it.
A fourth courthouse was built on Peachtree Street. This is where the current marble courthouse stands today. It was also made of brick. This building had a clock tower. Offices were on the first floor. The courtroom was on the second floor. It was built in the early 1890s. This courthouse burned down twice. After the second fire, it was taken down.
The current courthouse is the fifth building. It was built on the same foundations as the 1890s courthouse.
National Recognition
The Cherokee County Courthouse is a very important historical building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This list includes places that are important to the history of the United States.
