A Visit to Chowan County Courthouse, Edenton

After a visit to Iredell House and to St. Paul's Church, the next stop on the Edenton tour was the old Chowan County Courthouse. Built in 1767, this attractive brick courthouse positively oozes Colonial history. 

According to the informational pamphlet one can pick up in town, the edifice was possibly designed by John Hawks, who designed the famous Tryon Palace (one of the sites on offer in New Bern, NC). And if that wasn't impressive enough, the pamphlet also puts forth the thought that the "courthouse in Colonial Williamsburg is modeled after it." As a Virginia girl, I bristle somewhat when anything claims to influence something in my abundantly historic state, but perhaps it's true in this case.

In any event, the courthouse made for a pleasant stop on the Edenton journey. The main function, of course, was for legal activities, and as such the largest space is the first floor courtroom. I found the dark, central columns of particular interest, though our guide let us in on the fact that the columns were less decorative and more structural (to combat a buckling floor above). The stone floor and dark wood accents made the space feel solemn and official, both what you might expect from a courthouse of the period. 

Our excellent guide was enlightening on several fronts, and in the courthouse revealed an a-ha origin of a term everyone knows today: pass the bar. In colonial times, the expression referred not to the exam aspiring lawyers in the US must pass before they can practice law, but instead referred to...actually going beyond a point (a bar) in the courtroom. Walking past that point is undoubtedly much simpler than taking the bar exam! 

Upstairs revealed a large paneled room, used over the years for various Masonic and community functions. One panel was removed to show the brick structure underneath, which I enjoyed. I do so like to see the hidden workings of buildings, to see what makes them tick. More photos of the Chowan County Courthouse below. 

 


[photos copyright Megan Petty]