The History of the Augusta County Courthouse

The Augusta County CourthouseAN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Augusta County –1738: Formed

Dec. 1745: in operation

21 Justices of thePeace & Sheriff

1746: 12 Vestrymen

Courthouse No. 1Log: no windows, no heatThere by December 1745

Courthouse No. 2 1755-1789Finished 1755, First Court met there in August

It had a chimney and a fire place

Original structure retrofitted as a house

and used until 1788

Courthouse No. 3 1789-1836Augusta County just about to its current geographic size

2-story stone house finished in the fall of 1789

Met Second Monday of each month

Staunton1747 Thomas Lewis laid out town called Staunton

1802 Hustings Court begins: On March 20, 1802, the freeholders and housekeepers of the town met at the county courthouse and organized the town government, elected 12 Common Councilmen.

--1st court session held at the county courthouse April 19, 1802

1878 City purchased a building for city hall and the clerk ordered the Hustings Court be moved there

--On Aug. 9, 1878, the city sold its interest in the Augusta Courthouse to the County for $3,500; supposed to vacate Jan. 1, 1881.

--Protracted negotiations 1881-1885!!

--On Nov. 21, 1885 City agreed to pay county $125 per year

1897 Hustings Court moves to City Hall Building, 16 years after supposed to vacate Augusta County Courthouse!

Courthouse No. 4 1836-1900Brick, started construction in January 1835; in use starting June 1836

Current Courthouse (No. 5) 1901

Metal detailsMullins ManufactingSalem, Ohio

1897

John Brown Baldwin Bust