|
In 1973 the Greenbrier County Courhouse and the Lewis Spring were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Lewisburg became the “western capital of Virginia” in 1833 when the State Supreme Court of Appeals began holding sessions.
The only one of the tribunals not held in Richmond increased the town’s political and social importance.
The construction of the Greenbrier County Courthouse in 1837 was brought about by a decree of the Virginia General Assembly stating that Lewisburg be the annual seat of the State's Supreme Court of Appeals for those living west of the mountains.
The original structure was large, square, and massive - typical of that historic period. It was constructed from locally fired brick by well-known brick mason, John W. Dunn. A cupola belfry adorns the building, with a bell that announced Court was in session. We do know that the tradition of bell ringing continued at least through 1973.
The courthouse sits on Lot 7 - the Lewis Spring sits on Lot 8. West Virginia historian, Maurice C. Brooks, drew the connection between the two in the 1973 filing to have the building placed on the National Historic Registry:
"If it were not for the spring, settlers would probably have chosen elsewhere to reside; if it were not for the increased number of residents, the General Assembly would not have incorporated as readily; if not for the incorporation, survey and existing spring, Lots No. 7 and 8 would have received no specific protection; and if Lot No. 7 had not been set aside by the county, the Greenbrier County courthouse would not have been necessarily placed where it was. Thus, the Courthouse, in a sense owes its very existence to near-by Lewis Spring."
|
