Norfolk County Courthouse facts for kids
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Norfolk County Courthouse
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Dedham, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1827 |
| Architect | Willard, Solomon |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001312 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | November 28, 1972 |
The Norfolk County Courthouse is a really old and important building in Dedham, Massachusetts. It's located at 650 High Street. Today, it's where the Norfolk County Superior Court holds its trials.
This building is special because it's a great example of Greek Revival architecture from the 1820s. It's also famous for a very important trial that happened here a long time ago. Because of its history, the building was named a National Historic Landmark in 1972. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
The Courthouse Building
The original part of the courthouse was finished on February 20, 1827. A famous builder from Boston named Solomon Willard designed it. The land for the building in Dedham Square was bought from the family of Fisher Ames.
Original Design and Features
The first building was a simple rectangle. It was made of granite stone. It measured 48 feet by 98 feet and had two floors. At each end, there were special porch-like entrances called porticos. These porticos looked like ancient Greek temples. Each one was 10 feet deep and held up by four large Doric pillars.
How the Building Grew Over Time
In 1863, the courthouse became bigger. New sections were added to the left and right sides of the main entrance. These new parts matched the original design well. They had special flat columns called pilasters on the corners.
At that time, a dome was also added to the top of the building. Later, in the 1890s, the building was made even larger. Plans by Gridley J. F. Bryant helped create its current H-shape. More sections were added to the back, matching the ones from 1863. The dome was replaced with the one you see today. Inside, the building was decorated with Greek-style patterns.
From 1834 to 1847, a local bank called the Dedham Institution for Savings was located in the basement of the courthouse.
The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
The Norfolk County Courthouse is well-known for a very important trial. In May 1920, two Italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, were arrested. They were accused of a robbery that happened in South Braintree.
A Famous and Controversial Case
The trial took place in this courthouse. It became a very famous case around the world. The two men said they were innocent. Their political beliefs became a big part of the case. Many people felt the trial was unfair.
Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were found guilty. This caused a huge international discussion. Many people protested and asked for them to be set free. After several years of legal arguments, the two men were put to death in 1927.
Changes Since the Trial
The courthouse building has not changed much since the time of this famous trial. One important change is that the cages that held the accused people in the courtroom were removed.
The First Dedham Courthouse
Before the current building, there was an even older courthouse. It was built in 1796. This first courthouse served the county until 1827. That's when the new, bigger courthouse was ready.
What Happened to the Old Building?
The old courthouse was sold at a public auction. The first floor was then used as a shop that sold hats. It was also a home. The second floor had a large room for meetings. In 1845, the building was sold again. It became the Temperance Hall Association. Sadly, it burned down on April 28, 1891.
