Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Goats on the Square

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 6, 2022

1. Goats on the Square Marker

Inscription. Cattle, hogs and goats were important to Lawrenceville's economy in the 1840's. Unfortunately they also created a problem for the Justices of the Inferior Court. Fences and gates could not keep the local livestock from running at large and settling in on the courthouse square. Goats sometimes were found wandering in the courthouse halls after spending the night. The chief justice of the court convened a session to settle the problem. He suggested offering town lawyers the opportunity to construct a brick office building on each corner of the square but only if they maintained substantial fence around the courthouse. Four prominent lawyers quickly took up the challenge. In 1849, the county exercised formal contracts that deeded the property to the lawyers and their heirs. The Inferior Court reserved the right to reclaim the property if the livestock outsmarted the lawyers and resumed their wanderings on the courthouse grounds. The lawyers were equal to the task however, and the goats and other four-legged visitors were properly evicted from the square. *Find these four buildings that mark the corners of the courthouse square!

Erected by City

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

of Lawrenceville. (Marker Number 2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Believe It or Not series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.

Location. 33° 57.411′ N, 83° 59.369′ W. Marker is in Lawrenceville, Georgia, in Gwinnett County. It is on North Perry Street (Georgia Route 20) south of Lawrenceville Highway ( Route 8), on the left when traveling south. Marker is on the. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 165 N Perry St, Lawrenceville GA 30046, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Metro Atlanta.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 6, 2022

2. Goats on the Square Marker

walking distance of this marker: Memorial to the Fallen of 1836 (a few steps from this marker); Buggy Steps (a few steps from this marker); Lynching in America / Lynching of Charles Hale (within shouting distance of this marker); In Tribute to Ezzard Charles (within shouting distance of this marker); Watering Trough 1873 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Whacking Cane (within shouting distance of this marker); The Country Doctor (within shouting distance of this marker); The Gwinnett Historic Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lawrenceville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Confederate Veterans of Gwinnett County, Georgia (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on May 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 567 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 11, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.