Location: 191 East Main Street / Court Street NE
Built: 1867 – 1868
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: James Fields, David Fields and Hockman
Contractor: James Fields, David Fields and Hockman
Description: The building faces southeast and is a three story colored red brick and wood structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Abingdon. The southeast front has a large porch with four large white colored Doric columns rising to the roof line. An Italianate cornice follows the flat roof line. The recessed central entrance is framed with white colored wood. On the roof is a tiered square white colored cupola. The building houses the County Circuit Court, County General District Court, and County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of the 28th Judicial Circuit. On the northwest and southwest sides is a new addition constructed in 1954. The building was renovated in 1987. The architect was Dewberry & Davis and the contractor was Harold Kistner Construction Company.
Note: Of special note is the Tiffany stained glass window above the courthouse entrance. It was dedicated on July 4, 1919, to honor those who served in World War I. The courthouse is the only courthouse built in Virginia during Reconstruction.
History: The county was created in 1776 and Abingdon was selected as the county seat in 1777. The first courthouse was built in 1799. Three earlier courthouses stood on the present site. The second courthouse was constructed about 1800. The third courthouse was built by Herbert Ledbetter and William Fields in 1850 and was burned during the Civil War by Union soldiers in December 1864. The fourth and present Washington County courthouse was constructed in 1867 to 1868.
SOURCE: American Courthouses