Fayette County Courthouse Historic District facts for kids
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Fayette County Courthouse Historic District
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The Fayette County Courthouse
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly area between Peyton and Caine Sts., and Luxapalilla St. and railroad tracks; also Temple Ave. N. & S., 1st Ave. E. & W., 2nd St. S., 1st St. N., Fayette, Alabama |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1911 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000326 (original) 12001020 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1976 |
| Boundary increase | March 26, 2014 |
The Fayette County Courthouse Historic District is a special area in downtown Fayette, Alabama. It's like a preserved neighborhood where many buildings have a lot of history. Most of these buildings were built right after a big fire in 1911. They show off the popular building styles from the early 1900s in the southern United States. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Its size was even made bigger in 2014!
Contents
History of Fayette's Downtown
Did you know that Fayette County's first courthouse wasn't always in the same spot? In 1883, it was about one mile (1.6 km) away from where downtown Fayette is today.
How the Railroad Changed Things
That same year, a new train line was built. It connected Columbus, Mississippi, to Birmingham, Alabama. This train line went right through Fayette County! Because of the railway, many shops and businesses started moving closer to the train station. By 1892, a new courthouse was built in the growing town near the station.
The Big Fire of 1911
On March 24, 1911, a huge fire swept through Fayette. It destroyed most of the downtown area, including the courthouse. After the fire, the town council made an important rule. They said that all new buildings downtown had to be made from strong materials. These included brick, stone, or concrete. This rule helped make the town safer and stronger for the future.
Buildings in the Historic District
The Fayette County Courthouse Historic District has 26 important buildings. Most of these were built right after the big fire in 1911. Many of them face Temple Avenue, which runs through the center of downtown.
The Fayette County Courthouse
The most important building is the Fayette County Courthouse, finished in 1912. It's a two-story building with a grand, classic style called Neoclassical. The courthouse sits in the middle of a park. You can find memorials and monuments scattered around the park. A tree-lined path leads from the street to the courthouse's front porch, called a portico. This porch has four tall columns that support a triangular roof section. The building is topped with a beautiful dome, which has a clock on its front.
Other Important Buildings
At the south end of the district, you'll find the old Southern Railway train station. It was completed in 1913 and is made of red brick. It has a low, sloped roof and decorative supports under the eaves.
Right next to the station is the William M. Cannon Wholesale Grocery Building. This building, finished in 1928, is five stories tall. It's the tallest building in Fayette! It was first planned to be a hotel. However, it was built with wood instead of steel, so it didn't meet the city's building rules.
Building Styles and Materials
The courthouse and the Fayette County Bank are the only buildings in the district with the Neoclassical style. Most of the other buildings show an "Early Commercial" style. Some also have influences from Mediterranean or Asian designs.
Almost all the buildings are made of brick. But there are two exceptions:
- The Old Post Office (built in 1911) is made of stone and stucco.
- The F.A. Nuckols Building (built in 1912) is made of concrete blocks.
