New Appomattox Court House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Appomattox Courthouse |
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Current "new" Appomattox Courthouse that was built in 1892
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| General information | |
| Location | Appomattox, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 37°21′20″N 78°49′47″W / 37.35554°N 78.82986°W |
| Construction started | 1892 |
| Completed | 1892 |
The Appomattox Courthouse is the main court building in Appomattox, Virginia. It was built in 1892. This courthouse is about three miles (5 km) southwest of the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. That park is where the original "Old Appomattox Court House" once stood. The "new" Appomattox Courthouse is close to the Appomattox Station. It is also where the local county government offices are located.
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Why a New Appomattox Courthouse?
Before the American Civil War, a railroad line was built. It did not go through the old village of Clover Hill. This village is now part of the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. Because of this, Clover Hill did not grow very much. Its population stayed around 150 people. Meanwhile, the town of Appomattox (then called West Appomattox) grew much larger.
Moving the County Seat
The courthouse in Clover Hill burned down for the second time in 1892. After this fire, the county decided not to rebuild it there. Instead, a new courthouse was built in West Appomattox. This decision changed the future of Clover Hill village. The county seat, which is the main town for county government, officially moved to West Appomattox in 1894. Over time, the word "West" was dropped. The town became known simply as Appomattox, Virginia.
Understanding the Two Courthouses
There is a special marker at the site of the "new" Appomattox Courthouse. It helps explain the difference between the "new" and "old" court buildings.
This building, erected in 1892 when the county seat was moved to this location, should not be mistaken for the original, built in 1846 and destroyed by fire in 1892. Three miles northeast is old Appomattox Court House and the McLean House where Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865, thus ending the War between the States. The village of Old Appomattox Court House is now preserved as a national shrine by the Federal Government.
This marker makes it clear. The current courthouse is not the one famous for the end of the Civil War. That historic site is a few miles away.
Important People at the Courthouse
Two important politicians are buried near the courthouse. They are Henry D. Flood and his half-brother Joel West Flood. Both men served in the United States House of Representatives. This is a part of the U.S. Congress. They are buried in a special tomb called a mausoleum on the courthouse grounds.
