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The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

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Old Lexington Courthouse

SC PICTURE PROJECT 1 Comment

SC Picture Project / Lexington County / Old Lexington Courthouse

This historic courthouse in Lexington is one of many that have served the citizens of Lexington County. The first was built around 1785 near Cayce in a village known as Granby (no longer extant). As farmers in Granby began to cut trees to create cotton fields, the area became beset by floods, prompting residents to move to higher ground. In 1820 the community relocated to a nearby ridge along Twelve Mile Creek in present-day Lexington. A second courthouse, made of wood, was constructed that same year, and the town became known as Lexington Courthouse.

Old Lexington Courthouse

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2007 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

In 1838 a granite courthouse, influenced by designs of architect Robert Mills, replaced the wooden building. That structure was burned by Union troops during the Civil War, destroying all county records prior to 1839. A log cabin was built to serve as a courthouse in 1868, but by 1884 a brick courthouse was constructed in its place, seen in the undated photo below. The courthouse at the top of the page supplanted the 1884 brick one in 1939. It was designed by Columbia architect J. Carroll Johnson and was built as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project as part of the New Deal. The 1884 courthouse was torn down during the 1950s.

Fourth Lexington Courthouse

Lexington County Museum © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

A block away is the modern Marc J. Westbrook Judicial Center, completed in 2003. It was renamed in 2006 in honor of the late Judge Marc J. Westbrook, who died in a car accident on September 15, 2005 along with his law clerk, Randall Davis, Jr. The historic courthouse continues to serve residents of Lexington County as a magistrate court.

Lexington Courthouse Historical

Lexington County Museum, 1940 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The Old Lexington County Courthouse is listed in the National Register:

The Lexington County Courthouse is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places at the local level of significance under Criterion C for Architecture. As a Public Works Administration (P .W.A.) project, the courthouse exhibits the modern yet restrained classical architectural elements typical of New Deal buildings. This Modern Classic style is rare for courthouses in South Carolina, as only one other National Register-listed county courthouse in the state (Beaufort) has a similar Depression-era design. Also, it is an excellent local example of the work of the well-known Columbia architect, J. Carroll Johnson, and designing partner of Lexington County native Jesse W. Wessinger, in the Columbia firm of Wessinger and Johnson. The courthouse is a good local example of the federal government’s involvement in South Carolina’s economy and architecture through the New Deal work relief projects.

Plan Your Trip: Old Lexington Courthouse

Where is Old Lexington Courthouse located?
Address: 139 East Main Street, Lexington, SC 29072
GPS Coordinates: 33.981103,-81.236377
What else should I see?
Lexington Town Clock 0.1 mile
Simmons-Harth House 0.1 mile
Karle Place 0.1 mile
Marc J. Westbrook Judicial Center 0.1 mile
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Courthouses
  • See other South Carolina Historical Photos
  • Lexington Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina National Register
    Old Lexington Courthouse Map

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    Comments

    1. Dick Main says

      August 26, 2018 at 10:45 AM

      Well, I lived in the Lexington, SC area from 1980 thru 2015. I was born and raised in Ohio, but now live in Florida. I truly loved and miss living in Lexington. The little town atmosphere and friendly folks just fit my lifestyle. I would still love living there, but for all concerned I need to be in Florida. I just say hey to all you good folks back home, my home.

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    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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