There is a special place in my heart for old court houses. They have creaky, squeaky floors. They sometimes smell musty. The chairs and benches are hard and uncomfortable for sitting. The stairs are steep. The photos of important people in the county are creepy.
They also hold the stories about my family: marriage records, land transactions, birth and death records. Sadly many of the court houses in the South were burned during the Civil War. State Archives also contain family stories with newspaper articles, census records and old photos.
Old court houses, they have a wonderful history and are waiting for me to learn more about my family.
That's so cool. Being first generation American, I have no such connections to court houses. I envy you your ability to look up your roots.
ReplyDeleteI love this - it's how I feel about old churches. Musty, creaky, creepy, and uncomfortable don't sound like they add up to much, but there's a rootedness to those buildings that's magnetic and soothing.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever get the chance, be sure to visit the Old Courthouse in Independence, VA. It meets all your criteria - creaky floors, steep staircase, that wonderful sense of history. It is a turreted confection of a building that they've turned into a very nice museum of local history. It's reasonably convenient to Sparta, NC just off the Blue Ridge Parkway if you're ever up that way.
ReplyDeleteAs I have traveled with my DH, the genealogist, I have seen many great old court houses.
ReplyDeleteI love old houses, the creaky floors , the musty smell as well :)
ReplyDeleteMiddle Tennessee has some wonderful town squares with the County Courthouse featured. Love the older architecture of them.
ReplyDeleteI love the court house in Volusia County, Florida (DeLand, Florida). It is SO beautiful with it's copper roof.
ReplyDeleteBut, my most favorite is City Hall in Philadelphia. I could spend DAYS just looking at all the sculptures. I'm not sure that court is still in City Hall, but "back in the day" it was.
Sadly ours was pulled down in the 1970s. The clock towers survives and an old sandstone wall but that's all.
ReplyDeleteI love a good old building and the emotions and memories that it holds :) Good luck on your quest for family records!
ReplyDeleteI have taken lots of pictures of old courthouses. My interest stems from having worked in a courthouse (although not a real old one) and I love the old buildings. As we have traveled around the country, I've taken pictures of many old ones and should put them in an album or something. I have also gotten family records from a few.
ReplyDelete