The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20
COURTHOUSE Of
sMYTH COUNTY
y Splendid Edificc Just Com
pletcd in Town Of
Marion,
AN INDEX OF PROSPERITY
AN INDEX OF PROSPERITY
The Old Building Removed to
Make Place forsthe New
Erected in 1882.
Especial to The Times Dispatch.)

s Especial to The Times Dispatch.)
MARION, VA. May 19.-An evidence OF
the continuing prosperity OF the great
Southwest and Of Smyth county in par
ticular, Is shown in the new courthouse
recently completed In Marion. The old
building, on the site of which the new now
stands, on beautiful square on Main
Street, near the center of the town, was
erected In 1882, and had long been out Of
keeping with the progressive spirit which,
especially during recent years, has mark
ed this section OF the State.
This was the same year in which Smyth
county was organized. being formed out
Of parts of Wythe and Washington coun-
ties by act of the General Assembly on
the 23d; of February. Robert; Beate WAS
the first, clerk Of the county, and Charles
Tate was commissioned as sheriff Try
Governor John Floyd. The Common
wealth's attorney, was Charles E. Har-
rison. The first court for the county was
held on the 18th day Of April 1882, at the
home Of John Thomas. at the Royal Oak.
about one mile and half east Of the
present courthouse site. is
Tho gentlemen Justices who held this
/ first court. were Samuel Williams, Geo.
Nv. Davis, Henry r. Thompson, Thomp-
son Atkins, Abram B. Trigg, and Isaac
Spratt, many OF whose descendants have
been we'll known in the later history OF
the county. The lawyers licensed to prac-a
tice before the court We're John II. Full.
ton, David McComas. John Foster, Isaac
j. Leftwlch, Charles E. Harrison and
Andrew S. Fulton.
The first merchants liscense granted In
the county was given at this term Of the
court to William H. Spiller, who after
wards became the wealthiest merchant
In Southwest Virginia. The grand jury
first formed brought In only FIVE indict-
ments, all being for assault. These were
evidently fighting days. The following
prices we're fixed by the court
to be charged at ordinaries through
out the country: spilNtuous liquors,
per half-pint. 12 10 cents, French
brandy, % cents, Jamaica spirits, 25 cents I:
diets . cents; lodging, 12 IL cents; grain,
per gallon. u IL cents. To-day spr!tuous
liquors are sold at no point in coun-
ty. 4; VA #
as there was no town Of any size in
the county. commissioners were appointed
to select site for the county seat. They
were Wllllam Price. Thomas Peery, Jno.
II. Fulton and Samuel McCamunt After
Viewing various locations advocated by
differing factions, these commissions
ers fi..aly selected the land OF
William Humes In the brand VAL
ley OF the Holston and the CEN
ter OF the county, and the town Of Ma
ron, now thriving city Of 5000 people.
was laid of. The site chosen for tho
courthouse was then q wheat field and
the larger part Of the present town was
in forest. y7
The courthouse and jail were built by
John Cameron and Thomas Nv. Mercer.
contractors Of Joneshoro. Tenn, the con :
tract price OF the entire work Including
the fencing OF the lot, being $7,75O. 90. The
building was OF brickrand native wood
and stood we'll the storms Of seventy
four years. 1t was in good condition a
the time OF Its removal last year, and
much of the brick and timber contained
In 1t were utilized In the new building.
The financial condition OF smyth coun-
ty. under the largely Increased values OF
taxable property, we'll justified the ex-
pendlture necessary for the new and en-
arged building for county and court pur-
poses, and the Board of Supervisors, last
year, on their Initiative and under the
solicitations 2Ss OF 8the 9leading citlzons Of
the county determined that the time for
action was ut hand. Notwithstanding
the fact that considerable opposition 10
the project arose on the part OF few
tmorous individuals who feared an In
crease of taxation. bonds Of the county
for $50,0000O We're issued and sold in the
market for $5O.946,O0. & yfis5 t3ss
Bids were Immediately advertised for
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