The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20
COURTHOUSE Of
SMyTH COUNTY
a Splendid X Edificc Just Corn
pleted IL Town Of ..a
Marion,
AN INDEX OF. PROSPERITY
The Old Building Removed to
Make Place for the New
Erected iii 1882.
Especial to The Times Dispatch.)

Ill
MARION. VA, May ts. 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 OH Main
Street, near the center OF the town town, was
erected in 1882, and had long been out of
Keeping withSthe progressive spirit which,
especially during recent years, has mark
ed this section OF the State.
This was the same year In wAich Snlyth
county was organized, being formed out
of parts Of Wythe and washington coun-
ties by act Of the General Assembly on
the a3d, OF February. Robert Beatie WAS
the first, clerk Of the county. and Charles
Tate was commissioned as sheriff ny
Governor John Floyd. The Common
wealth,s attorney, was Charles E. Har-
rison. The first court for the county was
held on the 10Th day Of April, 1882, at the
home OF John Thomas, at the Royal OAK,
about one mile and q half east OF the
present courthouse site.
Tho gentlemen justices who held this
first court, were Samuel Williams Geo.
wv. Davis. Henry r. Thon1pson, ,Ihomp-
son Atkins, Abram B.. Trigg, and Isaac
Spratt, many Of whose descendant 8 nave
4Deen we'll kIlu leIISh
the county The lawyers licensed to prac-5
tice before the court were j Johns Il. 4 Ful :;
ton, David McComas. John Foster, Isaac
j. Leftwich, Charles E. Harrison and
Andrew s.. Fulton.
The first merchants liscense granted in
q the county was given at this term Of the
court to William H. Spiler. who after
wards became the wealthlest merchant
In Southwest Virginia. The grand Jury
- ,rH1 0ySn In
ments all being for assault. These were
evidently fighting days. The following
prices were fixed by the court
to be charged at ordinaries through
out the country: spirituous liquors,
per half-pint, 12 1-2 cents, French
brandy, 20 cents, Jamaica spirits, rs cents;
diets 25 cents; lodging, u IL cents; grain,
per gallon, u 10 cents. To-day splrltuous
liquors are sold at no point in coun-
ty. fgs .8 aI} e
AS there was no town OF any size In
the county, commissioners were appointed
to select a site for the county seat. They
were William Price, Thomas Peery, ] no.
II. Fulton and Samuel McCamant After
Viewing various locations advocated by
differing factions these commission
.ers fi..ally selected the land Of
William IIumes In the brand val
ley OF the Holston and the CEN
rion, now thriving city of 5000 people,
was laid of. The site chosen for the
courthouse was then wheat field, and
the larger part OF the present town was
in forest.
The courthouse and jail were built by
John Cameron and Thomas w. Mercer.
contractors OF JonesEoro, Tenn, the con-
tract price OF the entire work, including
the fencing OF tho lot. being $4,000. The
building was OF brick and native wood
and stood we'll the storms Of seventy
four years. 1t was In good condition at
the time OF its removal last year, and
much of the brick and timber contained
In 1t were utilized in the new building.
Il The financial condition OF Smyth coun-
Il ty, under the largely Increased values OF
taxable property, we'll justified the en-
5pendture necessary for! the new and en-
larged building for county and court pur-
poses, and the Bonrd of Supervisors, last
year, on their Initiative and under the
solicitations q, OF the dng4'citlzens Of
the county, determined that the time for
action was at hand. Notwithstanding
the fact that considerable opposition 10
tho project arose on the part Of few
tImorous individuals who feared an In
crease Of taxation, bonds of. the county
for $50 OK. 0O9 were Issued and sold In the
market for $50.94600
Bids were Immediately advertised for
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