Roane County Courthouse
(from the archived RCHC Web site)
Courthouse with People Undated Old Photo
- Click here to read a biographical article about Fisher and Guenther.
Click here to read an 1854 visitor to Kingston’s description of the Courthouse and the Courts in a letter to the Editor of the Kingston Gazetteer newspaper.
Click here to read references to the Courthouse, jail, and public square in Court Minute Book Q (1849-1856).
During the Civil War, the building was alternately occupied by Confederate and Union forces, both of whom used it as a hospital and lookout. The occupation did no damage to the building itself, although some historic documents were destroyed.
With the completion of the new courthouse in 1973 the old courthouse was scheduled for demolition. The Roane County Historical Society (predecessor to the Roane County Heritage Commission) was formed to lead the fight to save the building from the wrecking ball. In December of 1975 they won their battle and was [sic] deeded the building that also housed some 750,000 hand-written court documents. These documents along with a historic photographs collection makes the RCHC collection one of the oldest and largest collections in the state. This collection is maintained by the Archives Committee, a branch of the RCHC. The old Courthouse now houses the Roane County Museum of History and Art, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) library, and several private offices.
[The following information current as of approximately 1999-2001]
The RCHC was deeded the building with the understanding that they not ask the county for any money for future upkeep of the building. Due to lack of funds the building has fallen in such disrepair that the RCHC stands to loose [sic] the building if immediate steps aren’t taken. For this reason we have secured the expertise of Frank Sparkman architectural engineering of Knoxville to evaluate the damages. Estimates predict it will take between $500.000 – $1million to save the building. This is money that the RCHC does not have. Major federal grants have been applied for, many federal political heads contacted, including Bruce Babbit of the U.S. Department of Conservation, and all have turned us down for aid. The RCHC has now secured the expertise of a professional fund raiser to see if the money can be raised within Roane County. If you join as an RCHC Member your dues will go to aid in the restoration of the old courthouse. If you want to donate, offer some help, or just want further information please write all of the RCHC board at all@roanetnheritage.com [outdated], call the RCHC at (865) 376-9211, or write the RCHC at: P. O. Box 738, Kingston, Tennessee 37763.
Click here to read a July, 2000, article from the Knoxville News-Sentinel about the urgent repairs needed.
The Summer, 2010, issue of the Roane County Heritage Commission Newsletter (page 1) contains an update on the Courthouse repairs:
“Here we come again . . . .” We are planning our annual Gala to celebrate our Old Courthouse and raise money to match the TDOT grant — we must match 20% to their 80%.
We will honor Frank V. Williams III for his contributions to saving our building from demolition in the 1970’s and his continued support for our preservation efforts. Both Marilyn McCluen and Gerald Largen have agreed to share their memories of Frank — maybe a little roasting, too?
Building Report by: Tom McMurray – Building Committee Chair.
We continue to work with Frank Sparkman, our architect, on the state grant for phase 2, the visitor center and transportation museum. Contract bid documents and plans were approved by the Tennessee Department of Transportation on June 17, 2010. The State is currently reviewing our soft match (Architect Fees). When we have final authority to proceed to construction; we expect to have the work completed within 180 days.
Builder and Suppliers for the Old Courthouse
Prepared by: Joseph L. Herndon, Team Historian, Historic American Building Survey, September, 1974
Builder; suppliers: Materials and labor were supplied by local businessmen and craftsmen.
Many of these like Guenther had left the German and Swiss communities of Morgan County for the more promising opportunities of the nearby rivertown.
Joseph Byrd supplied the foundation rock. Wells and Cary supplied the lightning rods. Oscar Steinwehr, tinner, all tin work. G. Ebben, carpenter and cabinet maker, made the interior furnishings and finishings, as well as supplying 3333 ft. of plank. Henry Liggett merchant, supplied the courtroom stove and leveled the courthouse grounds. F. Young and I. H. (J. H.) Zinn were paid $1000.00 for a stone and iron fence around the courthouse (Jan. 1857), extinct. Zinn, a marble cutter and listed in Mitchel’s 1860 Directory as architect, carpenter, and brickmason, also carved the original bases for the columns on the southern portico and in the vestibule.
Alterations and Additions to Old Courthouse
Prepared by: Joseph L. Herndon, Team Historian, Historic American Building Survey, September, 1974
Alterations and additions: Maintenance and repair records are constant. The following is a listing of major work undertaken only.
1881 – the main courtroom (1st floor) was ceiled instead of the plaster being repaired.
1882 – a new roof was applied.
1888 – the 2nd floor courtroom was fixed up. The bar from the 1st floor courtroom was moved upstairs and a room for the circuit clerk was provided by the erection of partitions in the 2nd floor courtroom.
1889 – a clerk’s office was constructed by erecting partitions in the 1st floor courtroom.
1892 – the north and east masonry walls were rebuilt and rods were applied through the building (J. B. Stevens, architect). Also, two rooms were constructed in the 1st floor courtroom since. These were built as jury and witness rooms.
1895 – partition between clerk’s room and courtroom on the 2nd floor was removed.
1902-04 – a sustained period of remodeling. The original 6/6 and 12/12 window sashes were replaced by the present 2/2. The 3rd floor or attic “Long Room” was fitted up, cupola base, altered or rebuilt, gable dormers added, northern porticos added, new furnishings including new desks, mantles, and chairs added, new courtroom benches, new iron fence, stairs, rebuilt, present witness and grand jury room fitted up, the exterior brick painted, and repairs were made.
1936-37 – a 2 story rear addition was constructed. Herbert R. Graf, architect of Knoxville (and son of architect Richard F. Graf of Morgan County who had been associated with the original draftsman, F. B. Guenther) was the designer, and Joe Murphy of Kingston supervised construction.