Oldest Courthouse in
Georgia
The Fayette County courthouse was built
in 1825, just four years after Fayette County was
recognized as a county. At first it was just a two-story
rectangular building. The clock tower was added in 1888 but
the clock was not installed until 1910.
As a child in the 1930’s and 40’s, it was the biggest
structure in my life. I remember looking up at the huge
clock and wondering how close to heaven it must be. The
clock was operated by large heavy weights that had to be
rewound periodically. The clock struck the time on the hour
and struck a single strike on the half-hour. The time was
not always correct to the minute but it was close enough
for most folks in this easy going little town.
At the south end of the first floor a thick hemp rope hung
from the clock tower. When it was pulled it would ring the
clock bell. It was used to alert the town to an emergency,
often of a house fire. People hearing the constant striking
would call the telephone operator and she would announce
the problem and its location.
I can still hear from my daddy’s store on the south square
that booming voice of Colonel J.W. Culpepper as he tried
cases in the old courthouse. He was very hard of hearing
and thought everyone else was so he always spoke very
loudly.
Many do not know that the courthouse only had two floors
until it was renovated in 1965 It had gotten in bad shape
and some people were talking about destroying it. I give
credit to Varney Graves for convincing us to save it.
During the renovation a 58 foot hand hewn
heart of pine beam was found. It was removed and installed
as a bench in front of the south entrance where it remains.
A
restoration was necessary to the top floor, the roof, and
the clock tower in 1983 after a fire started by two
indicted felons hoping to burn evidence and records
relevant to their trial. At this time it was decided that
the old courthouse was inadequate for a rapidly growing
county and a new one would be built. The old courthouse
became the home of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce
and the Fayette County Development Authority. It remains
the central landmark of the City of
Fayetteville.