Newton County Courthouse

Built in 1902 in Second Empire architectual style by architect Martin & Moodie by contractor Martin & Moodie.

Martin and Moodie designed the Newton County Courthouse in 1902. With its three-dimensional massing and prominent mansard roofs, the building is reminiscent of the nineteenth-century Second Empire style. The structure originally consisted of four symmetrical facades, the north and south, and east and west being identical respectively. In 1936, the square form of the original symmetrical plan was changed when a two-story courthouse annex and jail were added to the south side of the building. The three-story courthouse is composed of structural masonry walls set on a continuous brick footing. The locally fired brick, originally exposed on the exterior, is laid in cement mortar and tempered with lime. When the courthouse annex and jail were added in 1936, these walls were covered with an application of cement stucco with a coarse aggregate. The three remaining original facades are composed of five projecting bays, with the central bay projecting the farthest. Entrances, located in the central bays, are accentuated with bracket-supported, balustraded balconies. The smooth plaster walls of the bays are offset by decorative quoins and hood moldings in the form of segmented, triangular, rounded and flat keystone arches. The central projecting bays are crested with a classical pediment on which a floral form is captured in a shallow relief. Originally, the windows were double hung with wooden mullions, and the doors were wooden with glass and wood insets over the door transoms. In 1972, the original doors and windows were replaced with aluminum and glass counterparts. The structure is topped with a mansard roof composed of painted, pressed metal. The roof is pierced with both round and arched dormers as well as two chimneys. Rising from the center of the roof is a truncated clock tower that consists of an open-sided belfry and is terminated with a pilaster-supported apron. The clock facades are topped with a pediment architrave and mansard roof. The interior originally featured tile and wooden floors, high ceilings with fans, plaster walls, and wooden staircases. Modern finishes now hide many of the original features. One example of this is the district courtroom, where the original balcony was removed and the historic pressed metal ceiling obscured by a dropped ceiling. The judge's bench was moved when a jury dormitory was added; an office and a restroom were also added at this time. The dormitory has since been locked up and is used primarily for storage. A new surface now covers the top of the original judge's bench. Throughout the years of continual use, the courthouse has been altered several times. In 1919 and again in 1925, the interior was modified to provide more functional spaces. In 1972 and 1973, the structure was "renovated" by contractors D. E. Walker and Sons. At this time, the original doors and windows were replaced with aluminum and glass counterparts; the ceilings were lowered; the walls paneled; the first floor was retiled, while the second and third floors were carpeted. In addition, a stair glide was installed on one staircase, the plumbing and wiring were updated, and a central air/heat system was installed.

-1910 and 1925 - Interior altered.-1936 - Annex and jail built, stucco finish over original brick.-1972 - Aluminum windows added by contractors D.E. Walker and Sons.

Current status: Active Courthouse