Old Gwinnett County
Courthouse
Lawrenceville, Georgia
:a
Lawrenceville, Georgia
After the courthouse burned in
1871, another structure was built to replace it. Unfortunately,
many of the citizens didn't like the new building. James Spence,
a local businessman who chaired the county commission and also the
grand jury, lead the movement to tear down the new building,
attacking its "shoddy construction."
The new building
was designed by E. G. Lin, a Baltimore architect who had moved to
Atlanta in the 1880s. He had also designed Central Presbyterian Church in
Atlanta. For the new courthouse he chose a
Romanesque-influenced style. The small balcony on the corner of
the front of the courthouse was originally used to summon jurors from
the square. The new building cost a little over
$23,000. Bathrooms were added in 1903, and in 1935 the
north wing was expanded.
This building was used as a
courthouse until the new Gwinnett Justice Center was completed in
1988. It now houses the Gwinnett Historical Society. The building
is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00
p.m. It is available for meetings and events. Call
404-822-5450 (this was a few years ago...if this doesn't work, use the
770 area code).
These
photos were taken several years ago. As soon as time and weather
permit, I'll take a lot more photos. This is a beautiful old
building. P.Sabin 6-18-04
More photos:
Confederate Memorial & Plaque
Describing Garrard's Calvary Raid. The Memorial to those who died
in 1836. You'll find more photos and
vintage postcard images of Lawrenceville in our Gwinnett County PHOTO
ALBUM.
|