Court House in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Courthouse Neighborhood and Lawyer's Row

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 11, 2024

1. Courthouse Neighborhood and Lawyer's Row Marker

Inscription.

Courthouse Neighborhood and Lawyer's Row. . , Before the late 1890s, Arlington County was a largely rural area and legal matters were handled at the courthouse in Alexandria. As Arlington gradually expanded and urbanized, interest grew for the construction of a centrally located courthouse. The Virginia General Assembly allowed Arlington citizens to vote on a location for the new building. Originally completed in 1898, the courthouse was a three-story Richardsonian Romanesque style building featuring an impressive 75-foot-tall central tower. The surrounding neighborhood became known as "Courthouse" and developed into the Arlington County government center with the police department, jail, and legal professionals all constructing offices on the adjacent blocks. Arlington County experienced rapid population growth due to the increase in the federal workforce during both World Wars. In response, the courthouse was expanded., In the mid-1950s, voters decided a larger courthouse was needed. Construction of a new modern, seven-story tower designed by architects John M. Walton and Associates and Albert D. Lueders began in 1959. The original 1898 courthouse was demolished in 1960 once the new tower was completed. After the current courthouse and jail complex was constructed in 1995 across the street, all remaining additions of the courthouse were demolished in 1997., Between 1927 and 1941, several low-rise office buildings were erected around the courthouse known as "Lawyer's Row". A small-town atmosphere was associated with this collection of tightly arranged buildings mostly occupied by law offices. It provided closeness among many attorneys, judges, and clerks of the court, and offered a sense of accessibility to clients. All five buildings were demolished in 1990 to make way for the new courthouse and jail complex., Lawyer's Row consisted of the following five buildings:

① Ball Building (circa 1935-1941) , ② Jesse Building (circa 1927) , ③ Jesse-Hosmer Building (circa 1934-1940) , ④ Moncure Building (circa 1936) , ⑤ Rucker Building (circa 1936)

Before the late 1890s, Arlington County was a largely rural area and legal matters were handled at the courthouse in Alexandria. As Arlington gradually expanded and urbanized, interest grew for the construction of a centrally located courthouse. The Virginia General Assembly allowed Arlington citizens to vote on a location for the new building. Originally completed in 1898, the courthouse was a three-story Richardsonian Romanesque style building featuring an impressive 75-foot-tall central tower. The surrounding neighborhood became known as "Courthouse" and developed into the Arlington County government center with the police department, jail, and legal professionals all constructing offices on the adjacent blocks. Arlington County experienced rapid population growth due to the increase in the federal workforce during both World Wars. In response, the courthouse was expanded.

In the mid-1950s, voters decided a larger courthouse was needed. Construction of a new modern, seven-story tower designed by architects John M. Walton and Associates and Albert D. Lueders began in 1959. The original 1898 courthouse was demolished in 1960 once the new tower was completed. After the current courthouse and jail complex was constructed in 1995 across the street, all remaining additions of the courthouse were demolished in 1997.

Between

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1927 and 1941, several low-rise office buildings were erected around the courthouse known as "Lawyer's Row". A small-town atmosphere was associated with this collection of tightly arranged buildings mostly occupied by law offices. It provided closeness among many attorneys, judges, and clerks of the court, and offered a sense of accessibility to clients. All five buildings were demolished in 1990 to make way for the new courthouse and jail complex.

Lawyer's Row consisted of the following five buildings:

① Ball Building (circa 1935-1941)
② Jesse Building (circa 1927)
③ Jesse-Hosmer Building (circa 1934-1940)
④ Moncure Building (circa 1936)
⑤ Rucker Building (circa 1936)

Erected by Greystar.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics • Political Subdivisions. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 38° 53.451′ N, 77° 5.082′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Court House. It is at the intersection of 15th Street North and North Uhle Street, on the right when traveling west on 15th Street North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2049 15th St N, Arlington VA 22201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, May 25, 2025

2. Courthouse Neighborhood and Lawyer's Row Marker

8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: First Federal Savings and Loan Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Investment Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Compassion (within shouting distance of this marker); The Arlington Line (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Arlington County Peace Officer Memorial (about 400 feet away); Fort Woodbury (about 500 feet away); Colonial Village (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Strong (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 238 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 11, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on May 25, 2025, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.