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Frederick County Courthouse

Photo courtesy of Virginia Department of Historic Resources

The 1840 Frederick County Courthouse is one of a few Greek Revival style courthouses in Virginia. Prominently situated between the Winchester City Hall and the Loudon Street mall, it is the third courthouse at this location. The three Frederick County courthouses were constructed on land set aside for public use in 1744 by James Wood, Winchester's founder. The first courthouse was completed by Thomas, Lord Fairfax, in 1751; a second courthouse was built around 1785; and the third and final courthouse was completed in 1840, after much heated debate. The exterior of the two-story, rectangular, brick building with a pedimented Doric portico and a gabled roof remains much the same as described and sketched by James E. Taylor during the Civil War. Control of Winchester by the Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War reportedly changed sides 72 times, and both forces used the courthouse to bivouac troops, temporarily hold prisoners and hospitalize the wounded. Evidence of the soldiers' occupation of the building was recently revealed during renovation when names, military units and other graffiti were discovered on interior walls. The Frederick County Courthouse survived two bombardments of the city during the Civil War. It was used as a courthouse until 1984, and thereafter housed Frederick County government offices until 1997.

The Frederick County Courthouse is located at 20 North Loudoun St. in Winchester, within the Winchester Historic District. Now home to the Old Court House Civil War Museum, the museum is open Friday and Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00pm and on Sunday, 1:00pm to 5:00pm. There is a fee for admission; please call 540-542-1145 or visit the museum's website for further information.


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