- Old Isle of Wight Courthouse
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Old Isle of Wight Courthouse
Old Isle of Wight Courthouse
Location: NE corner of Main and Mason Sts., Smithfield, Virginia Coordinates: 36°58′54″N 76°37′56″W / 36.98167°N 76.63222°WCoordinates: 36°58′54″N 76°37′56″W / 36.98167°N 76.63222°W Area: 1 acre (0.40 ha) Built: 1750 Governing body: Preservation Virginia Part of: Smithfield Historic District (#73002022) NRHP Reference#: 70000802 Significant dates Added to NRHP: September 15, 1970 Designated CP: July 02, 1973 The Old Isle of Wight Courthouse was built around 1750[1] and used as the main courthouse by the town of Smithfield in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
History
The courthouse was in use for around fifty years, and considered the center of the town.[2] It was constructed by William Rand, and featured a distinctive semi-circular apse and conical roof found in many English churches of the period. A clerk's office was constructed near the site in 1799, although it was only in use for its intended purpose for a year, and echoing the Colonial Capitol in Williamsburg.[3] In 1800, a new courthouse was constructed and the original building was modified into a family residence. To do so, the arcade was blocked and the roof converted to a gable.[1]
Preservation
The building was acquired by Preservation Virginia in 1938, and the exterior was restored in 1959.[2] Most of the interior had remained intact, despite the building's conversion to a private residence.[4] The building is one of four remaining examples of arcaded colonial courthouses.[5] It is currently operated by the Smithfield Chamber of Commerce, although it remains under the control of Preservation Virginia, and it is open year-round for tours.[1]
References
- ^ a b c The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (1989). Preserving Virginia 1889-1989: Centennial Pictorial. The Art Bank.
- ^ a b Couture, Richard (1984). To Preserve and Protect. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Co.. pp. 93.
- ^ "Old Isle of Wight Courthouse". Historical Marker Database. http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=35961. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ "Isle of Wight Courthouse". Virginia.org. http://www.virginia.org/Listings/HistoricSites/IsleofWightCourthouse/. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ "Isle of Wight Courthouse". Preservation Virginia. http://preservationvirginia.org/IsleOfWightCourthouse/. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
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- Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia
- 1750 architecture
- Isle of Wight County, Virginia
- Virginia Registered Historic Place stubs
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