Dispatch, August 5, 1899

COURT-HOUSE DEDICATED.

Architecture -- Courthouses

In Northampton County -- The Speakers Present.

Eastville, Va., August 4.

The dedicatory exercise over the newly-completed court-house took place to-day in the presence of a large concourse of Northampton and Accomack people. The programme was brief but very interesting. The opening speech was made by Mr. Thomas B. Robertson, a member of the Northampton Bar. He stated the object which had drawn together the large assembly of representative citizens, and also explained the absence of our State's Executive, Hon. J. Hoge Tyler.

The nomination of a chairman being declared in order, Mr. Otho F. Mears, Commonwealth's Attorney, named Mr. Thomas M. Scott, of this place. Mr. Scott took the chair and make a few appropriate remarks, and asked Rev. A. M. N. Meade, of the Episcopal Church, to offer prayer. The chairman then introduced Mr. Lloyd W. W. Brockenborough, who delivered the keys of the building over to their proper custodian, Clerk R. W. Nottingham. He spoke briefly, but with much grace and effect. Mr. Brockenborough is one of the youngest lawyers at this bar.

Responses were then called for, and Mr. O. F. Mears spoke on the subject of the trust imposed upon the members of the bar and officers to follow in the footsteps of those who had graced with their presence the ancient structure, so that this building might go down in history with no blot upon its fair name. Judge G. S. Kendall, the next speaker, referred to the commendable efforts of those who had been instrumental in erecting the new edifice, and made allusions to some of the prominent men who had in former years gone in and out of the old court-house, now only a thing of memory. Among those mentioned were Scarborough Parker, A. P. Upshur, and the late Judge B. T. Gunter. The chairman then introduced Hon. John S. Wise, of New York, the principal speaker of the occasion.

The first court-house of the county was erected in 1680. It is a small brick building about 20 feet square, and is still standing on the edge of the present court green, being now used as a store. In 1798 a second and larger building was erected, at a cost of about $2,000. It was this building that was torn down last March to make room for the new and handsome one dedicated to-day, at a cost of $8,600 in cash, and the old structure thrown in, so that the new one stands the county about $9,500. Northampton's old and priceless records -- the oldest continuous records in America -- will now be stored in the new fireproof repository, where they will be safe from destruction.

Dispatch
Richmond, Va.
August 5, 1899