The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-06-26
Historical Notes.

| handsomest and most substantial.
Prior to 1900 the courts for Sumter
District We're held 1t Stateburg, but
neither available records nor tradi-
ticn afford any facts as to the char
acter of the court house there stu
ated But that courts were held at
tnat place for number of years sub
sequent 70 the close OF the Revolu-
! -ionary war IS an approved fact, as
testified 70 by the records. Judge
James the author of the Life Of
Gen. Francis Marion in that work
speaks Of holding court at Statehurg.
In 1900 or the early part Of 1901 ii
was decided to remove the court
house to a more central locality. and
the present site of Sumter was select
ed as the most central and convenient
point in Sumter District, which then
included what is now Sumter, Claren-
don and the greater part OF Lee
county. The place selected is. desig-
mated in the old records as the plan
tation Of John Gayle. Esq, and COM
missioners were appointed to take the
necessary steps for the erection Of a
suitable court house and Jail. The
first court was held at the new court
house town Of Sunamerville, in the
latter part of 1901, probably, and
tradition has it that court was held
il. the house of John Gayle, before
mentioned \ house that was stand
ing until few years ago was pointed
out as the identical house Of John
Gayle, in which the first court met,
but this was disputed by some Of the
elder citizens This house was stu
ated near the northeast corner Of
Main and Canal streets, facing on
Canal, just across Canal street from
where is now situated the
new Court House. and only fifty
or sixty yards distant. It was a small
one story frame building and con-
.ained four or Eve small rooms, a
most. hence if the first court was
held in it, the attendance must, neces-
sariiv. have been limited in number.
a square in the center of the vii
Ia sc was set apart for the court house
and iail The SQUARE contained two
acres. approximately, and was di-
vided in the center by Main street,
then broad sandy public road. On
the west side Of the road the first
court house, either log or frame
building, was erected on the site Of
the old court house in which the last
court it will know will convene on
july 1st The writer has heard it as
serted that the first court house was
log building. which was displaced
within a short time by larger and
more pretentious building, while 9TH
ers claim that the first court house
erected was a frame building. On the
opposite side of the street, where the
city hall now stands, the county jail
was built, and this building was still
standing within the memory of
number of people now living, al
though few recollect when it was
used as a Jail. The half of the
SQUARE on the eastern side of Main
street on which the Jail stood, was
sold many years ago. The other hall,
containing one acre, was retained as
court house lot and about 1920 the
brick court house now standing was
erected 1t was handsome ana
substantial building for those days,
and substantial it still is. as any one
Who has examined the thick and
massive walls will testify. The orig
inal building was not as large as II
row is. additions having been made to
the rear on two occasions-once only
few years ago. at a cost of S12,OO
This last enlargement was only a
temporary expedient. for it was then
recognized that the Old building was
altogether Inadequate 10 the needs OF
the county. But at that time the
county was in debt and it was out Of
the question to borrow money at
reasonable rate.
The idea of a new Court House had,
however. become rooted in the public
raird and the people We're merely bid
ing their time. Their was no thought
but that when the time came 70 bulid
the long desired new Court House the
cid building would be razed and the
new erected on the same site. IN fact
ne enc could conceive Of Court
EouSe aisyrnere else than on the
Curt House square. Put IL l9o9 a
s,1ld;oa5c NJ business raen. organized
by Mr.. X. 3. Bel<er. ti?e reas estate
mas. approaciec the County Com