Sumter in Sumter County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Sumter's Court Houses
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2010
1. Sumter's Courthouses Marker
By Act of 1798, Commissioners were named "To ascertain and fix upon the most central place for the erection of a court house in the District of Sumter", and meanwhile "to fix upon a proper place for the sitting of the court". During 1800-01, court was held in the John Gayle home (N.E. corner Main and Canal Streets) until a suitable court house was ready for use, Jan. 1802, though not completed until 1806.
(Reverse text)
The second court house, designed by Robert Mills, was built of brick and stucco. It was authorized in 1820, completed in 1821, enlarged in 1848, and in use until 1907, serving also as a place of public gatherings for 86 years. This building remodeled is now occupied by the National Bank of S.C. The present court house, authorized in 1906, was dedicated in 1907.
Erected 1953 by The Sumter County Historical Commission. (Marker Number 43-8.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1802.
Location. 33° 55.343′ N, 80° 20.483′ W. Marker is in Sumter, South Carolina, in Sumter County. Marker is at the intersection of North Main Street and Law Range, on the right when traveling north on North Main Street. Touch for map
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Potter's Headquarters / Federal Order Of Battle (a few steps from this marker); Sumter World War II Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); General Thomas Sumter 1734 -1832 (within shouting distance of this marker); 8 Law Range (within shouting distance of this marker); First Presbyterian Church Sumter (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Y.M.C.A. (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Tuomey Hospital (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sumter.
Regarding Sumter's Court Houses. The Sumter County Courthouse was one of nine courthouses designed William Augustus Edwards, a prominent South Carolina architect of the early twentieth century. In 1905 seeking to replace the original 1821 courthouse Sumter County contracted with Edwards to design the new building. The building that Edwards designed for Sumter County was an I-plan courthouse, set in the center of a deep open block that ran all the way from Main to Harvin Street. The I-plan was a popular design for courthouses all over country at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the
Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 10, 2010
2. Sumter's Courthouses Marker, reverse side
Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 10, 2010
3. Sumter's Courthouse and Marker
Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 10, 2010
4. Marker seen along North Main Street
South Carolina Department of Archives and History, circa 2004
5. Sumter's Courthouse
National Register of Historic Places: added 2004 - Building - #04000619
Photographed By Anna Inbody, June 2, 2012
6. Memorial on the court house grounds
In celebration of General Thomas Sumter’s 250th birthday, 1734 ~ 1984, the First Baptist Church sponsored this tree replacement in gratitude for occasional use of first court house on this site, 1802. The congregation, organized 1813, erected the first church in Sumterville, 1820
Photographed By Anna Inbody, June 2, 2012
7. Memorial on the court house grounds
Photographed By Anna Inbody, June 2, 2012
8. Overview of the Memorial on the court house grounds
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 11, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,199 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 12, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 3, 2012, by Anna Inbody of Columbia, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
