Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society
"I know of no way of judging the future…but by the past"
-Patrick Henry
Martinsville Henry County Historical Society
P.O. Box 432, Martinsville, VA 24114
276-666-8316
mvillehchs@yahoo.com
Latest News
Congressman Virgil Goode and Deborah Hall, President of the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society announced on September 27, 2004 at 1:30 pm at the old Henry County Courthouse in uptown Martinsville, Virginia, that the society would receive $90,000 in 2004 and $200,000 in 2005 from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The Washington D. C. based National Trust For Historic Preservation is working with the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society and other local organizations via a $400,000 grant from the Henry County based Harvest Foundation to study ways to make the renovated courthouse the focal point for the uptown area including income producing space that will sustain the courthouse long term.
Membership
Help us preserve the courthouse by joining the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society. Memberships are yearly and due on March 15 each year.
Individual $20
Family: $35
Life: $250
Organizational: $50
Permanent Organizational: $500
Student (under 18): $5
Interior Views courtroom of the Martinsville-Henry County Courthouse
Board of Directors of the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society
President, Deborah Hall
Vice-President, Desmond Kendrick
Secretary, Thomas D. Perry
Treasurer, Richard Hamlin
R. Carl DeHart
Virginia King
A.C. Wilson
Programs
Held at the Pythian Building across Jones Street from the Courthouse the Second Sunday of Every Other Month at 3 p.m.
November 13, 2005: "A Tale of Two Great-Grandfathers" J. E. B. Stuart’s Great-Grandfathers in the American Revolution by Tom Perry, Founder of the J. E. B. Stuart Birthplace.
Henry County Historic Courthouse
Overview
The Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society has under consideration a capital campaign with a goal in the range of 3 million to rehabilitate the Henry County Courthouse built in 1824 to its post-1929 state. For a community rich in history, the Courthouse will once again become a source of pride. The museum to be located on the first floor will document and interpret the important history of the area. The former courtroom and adjacent conference rooms will provide a setting appropriate for meetings, community gatherings and special events.
Background
Two centuries of historic achievements are embodied in the Henry County Courthouse and Square. This historic site stands today with the potential to both preserve that history and open the door to the personal dimension of mere facts and figures provided in the history books. Whether it is the story of Sam Lions, escaped slave, or tales of the boisterous activities of the Courthouse Square in the nineteenth century ranging from militia parades to circus high-dives, history was made on this site.
The First Courthouse: 1793
The first permanent courthouse was a structure of hewn logs on a stone foundation that at one moment in its life boasted a roof painted red, the gables white, and the walls blue. Court days were days of festivity which included politicking and gambling as well as an occasional viewing of court proceedings.
The Second Courthouse: 1824
As the importance of the county grew, a new two-story building recalling the popular Roman Classical style, was built. This courthouse witnessed confederate troops marching off to Civil War and the long struggle to regain prosperity in the peace that followed. The thick walls of solid brick were laid in the elaborate Flemish bond pattern. These original walls with arched window openings may be seen today inside the Records Room.
The Third Courthouse: 1929
On the eve of the Great Depression, Henry County found that it had outgrown its imposing old courthouse. The 1824 courthouse was encased inside a larger building, which retained the original portico columns. This unusual building is unique among Virginia’s courthouses. The 1929 courthouse is almost completely unchanged since the day of its completion. The large annex, added to the rear of the courthouse ten years later, was a relief project of the Federal Emergency Works Progress Administration. It was used to house county offices.
Courthouse Square
The cannons accompanying the 1901 Confederate monument are naval guns with dates of 1885. They were shipped from Fort McHenry, Maryland. Upon arrival at the train station, it was discovered that the cannons were too heavy to move. They remained lying in the mud until the circus came to the rescue; elephants dragged them to the courthouse. The War Memorial obelisk honors those fallen in battles during the United States wars. Funded by area citizens, it was dedicated in 1985. Behind the courthouse is the slab foundation of the 1912 County Jail, since demolished.
THE OPPORTUNITY
A very special category of historic buildings in Virginia is that of courthouses. Today the community has the opportunity to assure, not only the preservation of the Henry County Courthouse and the material culture of the community, but also the creation of a museum to preserve and interpret the history of this area which gave to the state and nation, leaders like Patrick Henry.
THE PLAN
After extensive research and consideration, it has been determined to rehabilitate the historic Henry County Courthouse structure. Minimal evidence remains of the original courthouse fabric. Most, if not all, of the extensive renovation executed after 1929 is intact. Therefore, for economic consideration as well as historic accuracy, it is proposed that the courthouse be rehabilitated to the post-1929 renovated state.
In addition, after submittal to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources their Evaluation Team determined that removal of the two rear additions (the Annex) would not jeopardize its National Register eligibility. With this ruling, one option proposes demolition of the existing Annex, which is in great disrepair, leaving the Henry County Historic Courthouse intact while maintaining its stately symmetrical dignified character that remarkably prevailed throughout its tenure.
CONCLUSION
For decades, Virginians have recognized the value of their historic heritage. Whether it be Richmond, Williamsburg or Henry and Patrick Counties, community pride emanates from preserving not only the architectural quality and character of a building, but the cultural lessons of the past that contribute to community and family life of the present. Pragmatic reasons should not to be underestimated in deciding on the rehabilitation of the Henry County Courthouse. The environmental motivation of reusing and recycling precious resources is significant, as is the impetus such a building can serve for downtown rehabilitation. As cultural tourism continues to rise, the development and interpretation of historic sites in the community will attract visitors with whom the pride can be shared and result in a positive economic impact as well. Thus, in order for Henry County to hold its place in the history of Virginia, the community must consider the rehabilitation of the Henry County
Interior Views of the first floor museum of the Martinsville-Henry County Courthouse.
Links
The Harvest Foundation www.theharvestfoundation.org
Martinsville/Henry County Chamber of Commerce www.mhcchamber.com
Virginia Museum of Natural History www.vmnh.net
Piedmont Arts Association www.piedmontarts.org
Martinsville Uptown Revitalization www.martinsvilleuptown.net
Gateway Streetscape Foundation www.gatewaystreetscape.org
Bassett Historical Center www.brrl.lib.va.us
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