Pittsylvania County Courthouse
About this property
The Pittsylvania County Courthouse is located at 1 North Main Street in downtown Chatham, Virginia, USA. Built in 1853, this Greek Revival building was Pittsylvania County's third courthouse. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987, because it was the scene of events leading to Ex parte Virginia, a United States Supreme Court case extending the Equal Protection Clause to state actions such as jury selection. The Pittsylvania County Courthouse is located on the east side of US Business Route 29, at the northeast corner of Bank Street. The original portion of the building, built in 1853, faces west, with a modern addition extending to the east along Bank Street. It is a two-story brick building, with a combination of Classical and Italianate styling, designed by L.M. Shumaker. It has a pedimented Greek Revival portico, supported by four fluted Doric columns, and is topped by a tall cupola housing a bell and clock. Both the county, formed in 1767, and the town of Chatham were named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, then the de facto leader of the British government. The present court house replaced a structure built in 1783, one block west of where the old offices of the clerk still stands. The court was removed to this locality from Callands in 1777. In 1878, Judge J.D. Coles, a district judge, was arrested for violating the Civil Rights Act of 1875 by excluding African Americans from the jury selection process for grand juries and trial juries. Coles filed for release from custody, on the grounds that his rights as an individual and as an officer of the state had been violated. In Ex parte Virginia, the United States Supreme Court ruled against Coles, indicating that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution provided redress against the operation of state laws and the actions of state officials. It was one of a small number of victories for advocates of civil rights in the period. National Register of Historic Places listings in Pittsylvania County, Virginia Media related to Pittsylvania County Courthouse at Wikimedia Commons 1853 Courthouse - Pittsylvania County Historical Society Pittsylvania County Courthouse, Pittsylvania County, one photo at Virginia DHR Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. VA-271, "Pittsylvania County Courthouse, State Route 57 & U.S. Route 29, Chatham, Pittsylvania County, VA", 2 photos, 2 data pages, supplemental material
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
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Everything a full report reveals about Pittsylvania County Courthouse
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Questions about this property
When was Pittsylvania County Courthouse listed on the National Register?
Pittsylvania County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 1981.
What type of historic resource is Pittsylvania County Courthouse?
Pittsylvania County Courthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is Pittsylvania County Courthouse a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. Pittsylvania County Courthouse has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for Pittsylvania County Courthouse?
The period of significance for Pittsylvania County Courthouse is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Pittsylvania County Courthouse?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Pittsylvania County Courthouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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