- Collection:
- Georgia County Courthouses
- Title:
- Chatham County Courthouse
- Creator:
- Jackson, Edwin L.
- Date of Original:
- 1978
- Subject:
- Courthouses--Georgia--Chatham County
Courthouses--Georgia--Savannah - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Chatham County, Savannah, 32.08354, -81.09983
- Medium:
- photographs
- Type:
- Still Image
- Format:
- image/jpeg
- Description:
- Architecture Style: Modern
Courthouse Details: Savannah was the site of Georgia's first settlement in 1733. In Peter Gordon's 1734 engraving of Savannah, a one-room building is shown that is identified in the legend as the "Tabernacle & Court House". A variety of other facilities in Savannah and Frederica served as courthouses during the Trustee period. After the Trustees gave up their charter in 1752, Georgia became a royal colony. Subsequently, a courthouse was built, though the date of its construction is not recorded. In 1764, the colonial House of Assembly named commissioners with responsibility for rebuilding the colonial courthouse in Savannah. The next year, Peter Tondee and Joseph Dunlap began construction of the building, which was located on the western half of Trust Lot H in Percival Ward. This courthouse, which was finally completed in 1773, was a 34 x 60-foot red brick building facing Wright Square.With the outbreak of the American Revolution, royal officials left Georgia, and the new brick building became Chatham County's first courthouse. In December 1778, British forces captured Savannah, beginning an occupation that lasted most of the rest of the war. During this time, the brick courthouse was used as barracks for British troops. After the Revolution, the courthouse was repaired and again placed into use by Chatham County. Apparently, the building had been damaged extensively during the war, for the legislature in 1791 named commissioners to build a courthouse and jail. However, nothing came of this legislation, and the brick courthouse continued in use. In 1796, a great fire destroyed much of Savannah, including the interior of the courthouse. For several years, court sessions were held in various buildings, including Savannah's theater and silk filature. In 1804, the legislature authorized a lottery for rebuilding Chatham County's courthouse, and the building was subsequently used until 1830. By 1829, the justices of Chatham County's inferior court had decided a new courthouse was needed, and in 1830 they advertised for bids. The winning proposal for $27,484 was awarded in September 1830. The old brick courthouse was torn down in October 1830, and construction soon began on a new building at the same site. During 1831 and early 1832, Savannah's City Exchange served as temporary courthouse. Completed in May 1832, the new Greek Revival courthouse was a two-story brick building covered with plaster and painted white. The 110 x 46 -foot building occupied an entire block. The 1832 courthouse survived Sherman's occupation of Savannah in late 1864 and early 1865. In 1885, the legislature authorized a referendum for Chatham County to borrow $50,000 to expand and improve the courthouse. However, instead of renovating the old structure, Chatham County in 1888 decided to build a new courthouse. In 1889, the old courthouse was demolished and a new Romanesque Revival building erected in its place. By the 1970s, Chatham County joined a growing number of Georgia counties who found their current courthouse inadequate to serve the judicial, administrative, and legislative branches of county government -- but did not want to tear the historic building down. In 1978, Chatham County built a new six-story courthouse/judicial center, while converting the old courthouse for use as the administrative and legislative offices. In the 1980s, the county spent $4.3 million in renovating the old courthouse. - External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:dlg_gacoch_chatham-county-courthouse
- Digital Object URL:
- http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:dlg_gacoch_chatham-county-courthouse
- Holding Institution:
- Digital Library of Georgia
- Rights:
-
