What in the world is this odd-looking structure and where is it? Can you tell us anything odd about it? Send us your guess of what this photo shows – as well as your name and hometown – to feedback@statehousereport.com.
Last week’s “Is it a church?” wasn’t a church, as longtime sleuth George Graf of Palmyra, Va., noted in identifying it as the old courthouse in Chesterfield County. The building now serves as the county’s visitors’ center and museum.
Bill Segars of Hartsville wrote that the pictured building was at least the third courthouse for the county. “This Second Empire building was built in 1884 with an addition in 1937. It replaced the Robert Mills courthouse that was burned by Union troops on March 2, 1865. Robert N. McGrath is credited with the plans for this building, but it’s thought to be a revision of Robert Mill’s plans for the 1827 Chesterfield County’s courthouse. This courthouse was used until 1978 when the new and present courthouse was built.”
Others who correctly identified the courthouse were: Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; Jacie Godfrey of Florence; Steve Willis of Lancaster; David Lupo of Mount Pleasant; Elizabeth Jones and Dot Rogers, both of Columbia; and Frank Bouknight of Summerville.
>> Send us a mystery picture. If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
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