Centreville in Queen Anne's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Courthouse

Queen Anne’s County

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, October 19, 2007

1. The Courthouse Marker

Inscription. Oldest courthouse in continuous use in the State of Maryland. The building was authorized by Acts of Assemby after the removal of the County Seat from Queenstown to Chester Mills, later Centreville. It was erected between 1791 and 1796 on land purchased from Elizabeth Nicholson on her portion of “Chesterfield,” the estate of her grandfather, William Sweatnam.

Erected 1971 by the County Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1791.

Location. 39° 2.701′ N, 76° 3.896′ W. Marker is in Centreville, Maryland, in Queen Anne's County. It is at the intersection of Maryland Route 213 and Broadway, on the right when traveling north on Maryland Route 213. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Centreville MD 21617, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

in the Tidewater,

in the Chesapeake Bay Region,

and on

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the Eastern Seaboard. 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 one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Captain Samuel Turbutt Wright (a few steps from this marker); Armed Forces Memorial (a few steps from this marker); World War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); 1st Lt. Henry Coursey Lewis, Jr. Memorial (a few steps from this marker); World War II Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Vietnam War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Korean War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Brvt. Brig. General William Jackson Palmer Memorial (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centreville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Command Central (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. The marker misspells William Sweatnam’s (1680–1719) name. —Ed.

Additional commentary.
1.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2012

2. The Courthouse Marker

"The Court House" marker with "Sweatnam" spelled correctly.

Williams Sweatnam's name has been corrected on the marker by filing off "man" and pasting on "nam" in shiny plastic letters.

— Submitted January 1, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.

Queen Anne's County Marker at site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, October 19, 2007

3. Queen Anne's County Marker at site

Queen Anne's County Court House. The Queen Anne's County Courthouse was built between 1792 and 1794. Still in use today, it is the oldest continuously used courthouse in Maryland. In 1876, the entire building was enlarged to the rear and the wings raised to two full stories resulting in an interesting combination of late 18th century and Victorian period details. Note the carved gold eagle in the pediment in front of the building and the heavy double doors beneath it. A sharp eye will detect the iron shutters on the room once used by the County Clerk. These shutters and a vault door on the interior safeguarded county records that extended back to 1706. Be sure to look at the Statue of Queen Anne, England's ruler from 1702 to 1714 and namesake of the county. Donated to the County by philantropist Arthur Houghton, founder of the Wye Institute, and dedicated in 1977 in the presence of HRH Princess Anne, it is the only known statue of Queen Anne outside England.

Queen Anne's Court House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, October 19, 2007

4. Queen Anne's Court House

The Correction image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2012

5. The Correction

"man" has been filed off and plastic letters spelling "nam" added to correct William Sweatnam's name.

Queen Anne's County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2012

6. Queen Anne's County Courthouse

Current Courthouse for the Circuit Court of Queen Anne’s County image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rico Ramirez, August 16, 2024

7. Current Courthouse for the Circuit Court of Queen Anne’s County

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,736 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 23, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2. submitted on January 1, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3, 4. submitted on October 23, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 5, 6. submitted on January 1, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7. submitted on August 24, 2024, by Rico Ramirez of Prince Frederick, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.