Roane County Courthouse (Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Roane County Courthouse
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The old Roane County Courthouse
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kentucky Ave., Kingston, Tennessee |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Architect | Lowery, John D.; Fisher, Augustus O. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000829 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 1971 |
The Roane County Courthouse is an old and important building in Kingston, Tennessee. This town is the main place for Roane County. The courthouse was built a long time ago, in the 1850s. It is special because it is one of only six courthouses in Tennessee that were built before the American Civil War.
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History of the Roane County Courthouse
This old courthouse was not the first one for Roane County. It replaced an earlier brick courthouse built in 1803. The county leaders decided to build a new one in January 1853.
Building the New Courthouse
A local newspaper said in November 1854 that the building was "nearly completed." However, official records show it was ready to be used around 1856. It took a few years to finish everything.
Who Designed the Courthouse?
The main architects for the courthouse were Augustus O. Fisher and Frederick B. Guenther. Fisher came from a family who built many things in Virginia and east Tennessee.
Guenther was born in Dresden, Germany. He came to the United States in 1844. He helped start the town of Wartburg, Tennessee, and built several buildings there. The courthouse design is in the Greek Revival style, which was popular at the time. It also has some features from the Federal architecture style.
Materials Used for Building
The people who built the courthouse used materials found nearby. They used wood from local trees and stone from local quarries. The bricks were made right at the building site. People who were enslaved also helped with the construction of the building.
What the Courthouse is Used For Now
The old Roane County Courthouse was used for court and government work until 1974. Then, a new courthouse was built next door, and all the offices moved there. Today, the old courthouse is a museum. It helps people learn about the history of Roane County.
A Historic Landmark
In 1971, the Roane County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical building in the United States.
