Historic Courthouse
"A picturesque agglomeration of towers, turrets, arches, differing wall surfaces, windows in a variety of sizes and shapes, and exuberant ornament, the old Haralson County courthouse, which has stood proudly in the center of the square in little Buchanan since 1892, epitomizes the Victorian period. The building is Queen Anne in style. It was designed by Bruce and Morgan, whose partnership produced at least eight Georgia courthouses including several along U.S. 27" -- description from Georgia's Scenic Highway 27 website.
Built in 1891 on the square in downtown Buchanan, the historic Haralson County Courthouse is one of Georgia's oldest working courthouses. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 but remains a center of activity for the county.
Court was conducted in the historic courthouse until 1972 when a new Courthouse was built. It had served the county well for 80 years and still continues to serve its residents. The Senior Quilters meet every Monday. The Buchanan City Council and City Court meet here. The Haralson County Humane Society meets each month as well as the Disabled American Veterans. It has hosted several weddings and receptions over the years. The Historical Society has its regular meeting every second Monday at 6:30 p.m. and The Genealogy Library is housed in the Old Courthouse.
Buchanan is an exception to the general rule that the largest town in the county is also the county seat. When faced with the need to locate a courthouse in a newly-established county, commissioners typically chose a central location accessible by horse and wagon in a half-day's time. While such places often grew to be the dominant trade centers in the county, some like Buchanan did not. Nonetheless, the little town retains much of the charm long since remodeled away in larger communities.
According to the Haralson County Historical Society website, "James Rodaken was awarded the contract to build the first courthouse in 1856. It was to be built in the exact center of the public square in Buchanan at cost of $5,000.00. It was a wooden structure and was damaged by fire in 1888. Attempts to repair it were unsuccessful. The decision to build a new courthouse was made in January of 1891.
"The Haralson County Superior Court named a building committee and recommended that the Old Courthouse be sold to the highest bidder. It was also recommended that the New Courthouse be built where the old one stood, the center of the public square in Buchanan.
"On May 12, 1891 the contract for building the Courthouse was let to G.W, Goulding of Cleburne County, AL. The contract price was $19,000. The contractor worked until he ran out of money. Judge S.M.Davenport wrote a warrant to the contractor for $1,000.00 so that the building could be completed. Judge Davenport was defeated at the next election."
The handsome Queen Anne structure was designed by the architectural firm Bruce and Morgan. It is one of only a few such structures still standing in Georgia. The following is a description of the new courthouse provided by the architects and published in The Banner-Messenger, Buchanan, on June 4, 1891:
"The dimensions on the ground are 64x92 feet, arranged as follows: The front entrance into vestibule is tiled with Georgia marble from which we enter a fourteen-foot wide corridor extending through the building. On each side of the corridor are several offices of the county, large and well lighted. The largest room is given to the Ordinary for business and court purposes.
"Joining the Ordinary's and Clerks offices are the fireproof record rooms, amply large, well lighted and fitted with iron shutters, vault doors, iron floors and ceilings. From the first entrance vestibule are wide, easy stairs built of oak leading to the second floor, entering a large lobby from which we enter the Superior Court room; steps 44x60 inches in the clear, only 22 inches high. Large space is given to the bar and jury boxes and the balance is seating, on raised floor, 250 to 300 person comfortably, The Grand Jury room, Solicitor's, jury and Judge's rooms are conveniently located with the bar, fitted with all modern conveniences (restrooms).
"The rear stairs are located so as to reach the bar and jury rooms without coming in contact with those in the seats and lobby. The Judge's stand is large and conveniently arranged for the dispatch of court business. Court and jury rooms all wains cotted. Wood ceilings to the first floor rooms.
"The exterior makes a very neat and attractive building with a large corner tower about 110 feet high, and on the other corner a small round turret, and the several stairway landings are neatly finished up in good taste and proportions. The construction is convenient and substantial in every department."
From The Banner-Messenger, Buchanan, GA June 4, 1891.
Interestingly, Haralson County's best known politician has a small part in the history of courthouse. For more than 40 years, the late Tom Murphy, a lawyer from Bremen, served 28 years as speaker of the Georgia house. Chomping on a cigar and wearing a white Stetson and zip-up Florsheim boots, Mr. Murphy cut a larger-than-life figure in the Capitol. Mr. Murphy was one of the lawyers in the last case tried in the Old Courthouse with Judge Arthur Fudger presiding. Mr. Murphy was also one of the lawyers in the first trial in the new Courthouse.
Information from the Haralson County Historical Society website was used to create this page.