THE VINTAGE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE BELOW provides details of a major fire in Lebanon, Virginia. It is from the February 19, 1872 edition of the Lynchburg Virginian.
More information concerning effects of the fire is found in the following transcriptions of the subsequent meetings of the Russell County Board of Supervisors. In the 1970’s, Mr. George Cozzolino, Russell County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court, transcribed these old documents. He provided the transcriptions to local newspapers, including the Clinch Valley Times. EDITOR’S NOTE: We are including the full text of the transcriptions; not just the portions relative to the rebuilding of the courthouse.
MINUTES OF THE APRIL 1, 1872 RUSSELL COUNTY BOARD OF SUPRVISORS MEETING
At an adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors held for Russell County at the Courthouse on Monday the 1st. day of April, 1872.
Present: Robert B. Aston, Chairman; L. S. Hargis; William J. Kendrick; A. A. Kiser; E. K. Jessee; and John W. Martin.
The question was brought before the Board as to whether or not they could impose a tax upon dogs according to a late act of the Assembly. Whereupon they unanimously voted against imposing such a tax.
The subject of reducing the number of Townships was likewise brought to the attention of the Board, whereupon they voted against making any changes whatever in said Townships.
On motion of J. C. Gent, Clerk of Russell County, leave is grated him and he is hereby fully authorized to keep the records of the County at his house if he chooses, that is all the books and papers belonging to the offices of the County Circuit Courts of such County otherwise he may keep said records a the Male Academy [later the Russell College] in Lebanon the place heretofore designated by the Board for the keeping of the same.
Ordered that the Board now adjourn until Wednesday, May 7, 1872.
MINUTES OF THE MAY 6, 1872 RUSSELL COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR’S MEETING
At an adjourned meeting of the board of supervisors held at the Court house on Monday the 6th day of May 1872 – Present: Robert B. Aston, Chairman; John W. Martin, Wm. J. Kendrick, E. K. Jessee, and A. A Kiser.
The building committee heretofore appointed to Superintend the rebuilding of the court house laid before the board a brief drawing of their plan for rebuilding the same which plan provides for rebuilding at the site with the Jailors house in the department formerly occupied for a court room with a vestibule in front with two flights of stairs ascending right and left therefrom to the court room directly over the Jailors house with two Jury rooms on the same floor with the court room in front of the building immediately on the right and left of the head of said stairs, with the County & Circuit Court Clerks directly under said Jury rooms & on the same floor of the Jailors house, which plan was adopted by the board of Supervisors on the 18th Inst. By F. G. Ketron, at which time a final vote will be taken on the subject. The said F. G. Ketron is required in the main time to confine himself as near as may be to the general plan adopted by said board.
On motion of the Chairman and with the assent of F. G. Ketron the board rescinded the contract heretofore entered into with said Ketron as Master Carpenter with whom they had contracted to superintend the rebuilding of the court house and they do further order that the Carpenters work and brick & stone work be let to contract separately to the lowest bidder who will be required to give bond and security conditioned for the faithful performance of such duties as may be imposed upon him or them by the board of Supervisors or building Committee as the case may be and the clerk of this Board is hereby authorized and directed to give notice that the letting of said building to contract will commence on the 18th Inst. and will be held open until the Tuesday after the first Monday in June next to receive bids therefore, which may be directed to the Clerk of this board in sealed envelopes.
The question being before the board as to whether or not they would levy a district school tax and thereupon they made the following levies Viz. Elk Grden Township and Copper Creek Township one cent on the $100 worth of land and property. New Garden, Lebanon & Moccasin Townships two cents on the $100 worth of land and property and Castlewoods Township five cents on the $100 of land and property.
The board also laid a levy of one cent on the $10 land and property for the purpose of appropriating a County school fund.
Ordered that the board now adjourned until the 18th Inst.
J. C. Gent, Clerk
R. B. Aston, Chairman
At an adjourned meeting of the board of Supervisors held for Russell County at the court house on 18th day of May 1872
Present – Robert B. Aston, Chairman; L. S. Hargis; Elihu K. Jessee; John W. Martin.
Ordered that F. G. Ketron and E. R. Smith be temporarily added to the building committee for the purpose of assisting the permanent committee in drawing up different plans and specification for a new Court house who are also required to make an estimate of the costs of the same and make their report to the next meeting of the board.
Ordered that the board adjourn until the 3rd day of June, 1872.
J. C. Gent, Clerk
At an adjourned meeting of the board of Supervisors held for Russell County at the court house on 6th day of January, 1873
Present: E. D Kernan, W. S. Gilmer, J. W. Dorton, and H. G. Long.
The board organized by electing E. D. Kernan Chairman for the ensuing year. The Board proceeded to let out the keeping of the Courthouse in the [illegible] manner for the ensuing year. Commencing at the close of the preceding year as kept by J. J. Henritze, and thereupon the said J. J. Henritze became the bidder at the price of $30.00 per annum.
Ordered that J. C. Gent be allowed the sum of $45.00 for the rent of the large room directly over his store house room till the 1st day of January 1874 to be used for a Clerk’s office, Jury Room, and for the meeting of the Board of Supervisors and for no other purpose of any character whatsoever.
On motion of William B. Aston, Attorney for the Commonwealth for the County of Russell and it appearing to the board that the destruction of the public building by fire on the 14th day of February 1872, that is to say, the Courthouse and jail of said County has greatly increased the taxes in said County, so much that the levies already made are becoming oppressive. Therefore, be it resolved that the Legislature be requested to pass an act to exonerate said County from the purchase use of payment of the amt. required to be paid the Superintendent of Weights and Measures, for said implements according to the 4th Sec. of Chapter 89 of the Code 1860 and as in duty bound they will ever pray.
Claims allowed and paid:
J. J. Henritze – Keeping Courthouse $30.00
Smallpox Claims – Provisions and furnishings inmate quarantine; clothing for same; guard duty for smallpox quarantines. Making coffin for colored infant $1.50.
At an adjourned meeting of the board of supervisors held for Russell County at the Courthouse April 7, 1873
Parish O’Neal and Co. having proposed to cover the Courthouse with tin instead of with poplar shingles for the additional sum of $400.00 and the Board having maturely considered said proposition, accepted the same and ordered that the sum of $400.00 be laid in the County levy for said purpose.
Meeting adjourned.
[seal] J. C. Gent, Clerk
THE FOLLOWING ITALICIZED INFORMATION comes from an article written by Linda Salyer on March 30, 1992. It appeared in the January 13, 1999 edition of The Lebanon News.
In 1872 a great fire destroyed the courthouse built in 1852. The majestic Ionic columns of the portico, which still stood, were retained and used in the present courthouse. this building, which was completed February, 1874 for a cost of ten thousand dollars, is still in use today.
- Felix G. Ketron was employed as the master carpenter for the sum of $2.57 per day.
- The courthouse was constructed of stone, brick, and wood, and was two stories high, with the same “columns facing the street,” and east and west wings.
- The courthouse was paneled in wood; from it, two circular stairways, with handmade banisters, in the main lobby are among the main features retained.
- In 1876, a large suitable bell was sought at a cost of $161.06, and $15.00 for hanging the bell.
- The clock was purchased for $532.00, which was something for that time. Contractor William White was paid $31.92 one-half for expense of putting the clock on the courthosue.
- The small plot in front of the building, with its green grass and maple trees has been retained.
Since its construction in 1874, the following additions have been made:
- 1891 – a two-story fireproof vault, at a cost of approximately $2,500.00.
- 1905 – two jury rooms and the entire building remodeled, approximate cost $5,000.00
- 1922 – one room for jurors held together during trials of felony casts, cost about $2,000.00
- 1929 – two office rooms and three-story vault, cost $12,000.00.
AS THE VILLAGE OF LEBANON CONTINUED TO GROW, incorporation was sought for the town in 1873. Here’s the official announcement of incorporation.
The most significant change to the Russell County Courthouse since its construction is the recent completion of a large addition, part of which can be seen on the right side of the photo below.
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