Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1918-10-11
THE COURT HOUSE.

u
The Shenandoah County Coul
House has been beautifully repaire
by order of the Board of Supervisor.
The building has been painted. th
court room has been put In exceller
condition. Toilets and sewerag
have been constructed and the oil
county clerks Office has been change
to q ladies' rest room. The oil
circuit court office is now the Treas
urer's Office. The upper story will
be used - IN Office for the Sup't Q
Schools and jury room which vii
also be occupied by the Shenandoah
Chapter, Daughters of the Confeder
scy. The toilets and sewerage wer
under the supervision OF Kneisle.
Bros. The carpenter work unde
that OF J. s. D. Fravel, the work be
ing done by Messrs. Charles Coffman
VIM Orndorff and Adolph Sweeny ant
the painting was done by Msssrs. w
]. Supinger and ]. 81. Clover. Tit
concrete work was done by Messrs
VIM Laughlin, William Burch ant
Geo. Litten. The entire work wal
under The supervision OF committed
consisting of Supervisors JOSEPH
Wisman, J. D. Harpine and George
Copp.
His Honor. F. B. Whiting, Judge Of
the circuit manifested much interest,"
in the Improvement and rendered all
the aid that he could.
The county can we'll feel proud OF
its Court House. It Is handsome
building Of stone to which has been
added q brick building in which are
the courtroom and clerks offices which
are large and conveniently arranged.
The front building was erected in
1893, and after one hundred and
twenty-five years use is in excellent
condition. It IL surmounted by a
graceful cupola at the top of which
stands an Indian who has foretold
the weather indications to generation
after generation for y century and a
quarter. On one occasion the writer
asked an architect for his opinion of
the cupola. His reply was: ut is all
right, 1 never noticed it-if anything
had been wrong. 1 would have no.
ticed It,"
We like the old building. We like
its appearance. We like its adapts-
bility to the purposes intended and
we would not exchange it for any of
the modern built court houses. With
q few other improvements which sug-
gest themselves, it will be not only
useful but ornamental.
The building stands upon historical
ground Many incidents some by
tradition and others by history are
worth preservation.
1t is said that at an early day, after
what was termed general MUSTER"
The drums were beating for recruits to
repel an Indian invasion. Two young
men came from the Common at full
speed, jumped from their horses and
enlisted. Both of them were killed
by Indians on the Sciota river, now
IN Ohio.
1t was within sound of the Court
House, that the first meeting which
adopted resolutions similar to those
in the Declaration of In
was held. Nearby Peter
preached his celebrated
sermon and recruited the nucleus Of
The sth Virginia Regiment, renowpd
Tor gsllantry in the revolutionary
war.
On the street in front paraded Capt.
Shrum's company, enlisted during
The war OF 1872.
Immediately in front, men were
for the Mexican war In 1S47.
1t was from the same place that the
Muhlenberg company hastily formed
and proceeded to Hsrper's Ferry to
repel John Browns effort to insu.
gurate q servile insurrection. At the
beginning Of the civil war, companies
assembled here and hastily departed
for the front.
In 1862, when Banks army ap.
p, cached Woodstock about . half
dozen shells struck the houses, among
them one passed through the cupola
and entered the old Jail. Fortunately
it did not do anv serious damage and
the cupola was repaired soon after
The cessation Of hostilities.
An incident Of historical interest
took place in the yard in front Of the
Court House in 1862. General T. j.
J ackson was resting beneath the
trees. General Fremont's army was
pressing Jackson's troops. The rear
guard was in charge of the Colonel
OF the 9Th Va. Cavalry. The enemy
were closely pressing on and picking
up some Of the struggling infantry.
This was noticed by Col. Ashby, who
was not on duty that day. He at once
gathered few of the struggling in
fantry, placed them in the cedars
about one mile north OF town and they
10 turn emptied a number of saddles
of the charging cavalry. Col. Ashby
at once had his little band mounted
on the enemy's horses and brought
them to Gen. Jackson, saluting, he
remarked: "Gen. Jackson, permit me
to present to you some of your in
fansry," GENERAL Ashby," replied
General Jackson, please take charge
of my rear.
At the same point assembled Capt
]. W. Magruder's company, before
starting for the Spanish American
war.
In the world war now In progress
men from every section Of the count.
were assembled in the Court Hous