New Courthouse

Photo by Ed Gordon
Transcription by Kim Gordon

The Dedication Ceremony for the brand new Crawford County Courthouse was held Saturday, June 29, 2002. I, as an employee (and resident) of Crawford County, was in attendance. According to the Crawford County Historical Society, the old Courthouse is to be made into a Museum. Here is the article published in the local newspaper (The Georgia Post) by Patti Temple.

July 4, 2002 Edition

Courthouse dedicated in Saturday ceremony

The newly constructed courthouse was dedicated on Saturday, June 29, as invited guests, including judges, legislative dignitaries and local officials, witnessed the long-awaited event. Inside the county's new showplace, the Senator Paul Coverdell Room--to be used for public meetings and other community functions--honors the late senator who was instrumental in bringing a $1 million grant to Crawford County for the project. The ceremony began with soloist Chris Carswell singing "America the Beautiful" and the posting of the colors by an Air Force Color Guard, followed by Carswell signing "The Star Spangles Banner." Jimmy Moncrief, local Farm Bureau president, spoke to the gathered crowd, giving a history on the initial efforts by Moncrief and the late Commissioner Freddie Tidwell to find money for a new courthouse, since the nearly-200-year-old courthouse, though a beloved relic of the county, was not up to current standards. Moncrief met with representatives and worked with Coverdell's office in an effort to get federal funding - "pork barrel money," Moncrief said-- in the budget directed to Crawford County for the project. The budget that passed under President Bill Clinton included the $1 million that would become the seed money for the construction of the new courthouse. Senator Coverdell made a symbolic presentation of the money to Tidwell at a reception in October of 1998. Moncrief credited Commissioner Greg Dent for his ability to orchestrate that funding in a specific way so the project did not outlive the money source availability. "It nearly ran out of time to begin the construction," Moncrief said. "Had it not been for Commissioner Greg Dent (the funds) very well could have been lost." Dent was also one of the most vocal supporters of the project in his efforts to convince judges that Crawford County court cases should not be handled in Macon. Dent actively campaigned the commission for half of collected SPLOST (special projects local option sales tax) funds to go toward the courthouse construction. The old courthouse in Knoxville may not have been up to the standards of a modern courthouse but many in the county feel the landmark building--the oldest active courthouse in the country--should be preserved as a historical site. Sen. Coverdell had stated his preference that the aged courthouse be preserved in that manner. Commissioners agreed, and this year passed a resolution to have the courthouse and square placed on the county's historical registry. The Crawford County Historical Society plans to preserve the facility as a museum. Coverdell's widow, Nancy Coverdell, spoke at the dedication and said the senator loved the old courthouse building and viewed it as a significant historical feature in need of preservation. State Rep. Robert Ray was unable to attend the ceremony, but his wife, Jennifer, read his comments to the crowd. Ray reminisced about running for county commissioner in the early 1960s and his commitment to repair the old courthouse if he was elected. Ray was elected and followed through on his promise; the building got a facelift, with the work completed in 1970. Most of the day's speakers agreed the new edifice cannot totally replace the 170-year-ole structure that has served the county as courthouse, meeting place and keeper of Crawford history with documents from three centuries preserved in it's vaults. Judge Tommy Day Wilcox commented--along with other judges and speakers--that Crawford Countians now have a courthouse they should be proud of, and one that will represent the county with dignity and strength to all who see it.

This page was last updated Tuesday, November 08, 2005 04:07 PM

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