Old Town in Winchester, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

History of the Courthouse

— 1 Story / 1 Thousand Voices —

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, December 16, 2025

1. History of the Courthouse Marker

Inscription.

History of the Courthouse. . , "The courtroom is a hospital, in which every variety of wound and suffering meets your eye." , Union Col. Wilder Dwight after the First Battle of Kernstown, March 23, 1862, Directly in front of you stands the historic Frederick County Courthouse, built in 1840, the third courthouse built on this site., The first courthouse, completed in 1751, was a log structure. On July 24, 1758, George Washington's political career began at this location when he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. A second courthouse was built in 1785, but was not well thought of. In 1838, the Justices of the Frederick County Court ordered, "that a new Court House shall be built for this County," and the new courthouse - the building that stands here today - opened in 1840., During the Civil War, the courthouse was used as a barracks, a hospital, and a temporary prison. After the Third Battle of Winchester, a thousand Confederate prisoners were held in the courtyard in front of the courthouse. During the war, many soldiers wrote their names and other graffiti on the walls of the courthouse., In subsequent years, the second floor of the courthouse was used as an opera house, for offices, and as a classroom space. In 2003, the county renovated the building, which reopened as the Old Court House Civil War Museum. In 2016, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation assumed operation and renamed it the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum., (captions) , George Washington, Confederate prisoners being held at the courthouse on September 20, 1864, following the Third Battle of Winchester. Sketch by James Taylor. Image courtesy Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio., The "Jeff Davis Curse" graffiti in the Courthouse., (sidebar) , Winchester's "Common Soldier" Monument , The Confederate monument in front of the courthouse was unveiled on November 15, 1916. Thomas K. Cartmell, the chairman of the monument commission, explained that, "The monument is not designed to have, nor can it be thought to have any political significance." The artist was renowned Chicago sculptor Frederick C. Hibbard, who during his career produced over 70 sculptures. Among those who donated to the monument fund was Union veteran Col. James Schoonmaker, who had been awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Third Battle of Winchester., (caption) Unveiling of monument on November 16, 1916. Image courtesy of Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society Collection, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives Room, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA

"The courtroom is a hospital, in which every variety of wound and suffering meets your eye." —Union Col. Wilder Dwight after the First Battle of Kernstown, March 23, 1862

Directly in front of you stands the historic Frederick County Courthouse, built in 1840—the third courthouse built on this site.

The first courthouse, completed in 1751, was a log structure. On July 24, 1758, George Washington's political career began at this location when he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. A second courthouse was built in 1785, but was not well thought of. In 1838, the Justices of the Frederick County Court ordered, "that a new Court House shall be built for this County," and the new courthouse - the building that stands here today - opened in 1840.

During the Civil War, the courthouse was used as a barracks, a hospital, and a temporary prison. After the Third Battle of Winchester, a thousand Confederate prisoners were held in the courtyard in front of the courthouse. During the war, many soldiers wrote their names and other graffiti on the walls of the courthouse.

In subsequent years, the second floor of the courthouse was used as an opera house, for offices, and as a classroom space. In 2003, the county renovated the building, which reopened as the Old Court

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House Civil War Museum. In 2016, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation assumed operation and renamed it the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum.

(captions)
George Washington

Confederate prisoners being held at the courthouse on September 20, 1864, following the Third Battle of Winchester. Sketch by James Taylor. Image courtesy Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio.

The "Jeff Davis Curse" graffiti in the Courthouse.

(sidebar)
Winchester's "Common Soldier" Monument
The Confederate monument in front of the courthouse was unveiled on November 15, 1916. Thomas K. Cartmell, the chairman of the monument commission, explained that, "The monument is not designed to have, nor can it be thought to have any political significance." The artist was renowned Chicago sculptor Frederick C. Hibbard, who during his career produced over 70 sculptures. Among those who donated to the monument fund was Union veteran Col. James Schoonmaker, who had been awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Third Battle of Winchester.

(caption) Unveiling of monument on November 16, 1916. Image courtesy of Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society Collection, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives Room, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA

Erected by

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, December 16, 2025

2. History of the Courthouse Marker

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era • Government & Politics • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is March 23, 1862.

Location. 39° 11.066′ N, 78° 9.922′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia. It is in Old Town. It is on North Loudoun Street north of East Boscawen Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 N Loudoun St, Winchester VA 22601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Confederate Memorial (here, next to this marker); Lord Fairfax (within shouting distance of this marker); The Wilbur M. Feltner Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonel James Wood (within shouting distance of this marker); Winchester During the Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); A View of Winchester in 1745 - The Four Public Lots (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington's Political Career Began on This Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Miller Drug Store (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Frederick County Courthouse (was here, next to this marker but has been

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replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location titled "Frederick County Courthouse".

Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2025, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 78 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 17, 2025, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.