Lunenburg in Lunenburg County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Lunenburg County Courthouse
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 21, 2017
1. Lunenburg County Courthouse Marker
William Howard and Dabney Cosby, who had worked for Thomas Jefferson, completed this courthouse in 1827. The second courthouse to occupy this site, it is a temple-form building employing the Doric order and was influenced by Jefferson’s Roman Revival style. It originally included an apsidal rear wall. The exterior stairs were added later in the 19th century. Lunenburg’s county seat, originally located near present-day Chase City, was moved here after Mecklenburg County was formed in 1765. This town was laid off as Lewiston in 1817 and later renamed Lunenburg Court House. Two law offices (built 1842 and 1888) remain on the courthouse square.
Erected 2013 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number SN-67.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Political Subdivisions. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #03 Thomas Jefferson, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.
Location. 36° 57.684′ N, 78° 15.967′ W. Marker is in Lunenburg, Virginia, in Lunenburg County. Marker is at the intersection of Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 49) and Hardy Road (Route 675),
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Court House (a few steps from this marker); Lunenburg County Confederate Monument (a few steps from this marker); Nathaniel Lee Hawthorne (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Peoples Community Center (approx. 2.9 miles away); Places of the Past (approx. 3.1 miles away); Railroad History (approx. 3.1 miles away); People of Victoria (approx. 3.1 miles away); Businesses & Merchants (approx. 3.1 miles away).
Also see . . . Lunenburg County Virginia History. County website entry:
“Lunenburg is one of only thirteen counties in Virginia known as “The Hanover Counties” because they bear names associated with various persons of the royal House of Hanover. Lunenburg is also historically known as ‘The Old Free State of Lunenburg,’ a title bestowed at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. Lunenburg, largely agricultural, is known for its red clay and climate suited to various crops, mainly tobacco which has been and remains the principal cash crop. The abundant red clay was beneficial for building, resulting in the historic courthouse and many of its antebellum (pre-war) homes and chimneys being constructed of hand-kilned bricks from native soil.” (Submitted on August 28, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 21, 2017
2. Lunenburg County Courthouse Marker
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 21, 2017
3. Lunenburg County Courthouse
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 21, 2017
4. Law Offices, Lunenburg Courthouse, Virginia
On the left is the Tscharner Woodson Law Office, c. 1842. On the right the Isaac Bonaparte Bell Law Office, c. 1888. Both are on the Virginia Landmarks Register and on the National Register of Historic Places.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 353 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 28, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
