Old Shelby County Courthouse

The Old Shelby County Courthouse, also known as Columbiana City Hall, is a defunct courthouse in Columbiana, Alabama. It was built in 1854. It served as the courthouse for Shelby County until 1906 when a larger court facility was built. It also served as Columbiana's city hall. Since 1982, it has housed the Shelby County Museum and Archives and its operator, the Shelby County Historical Society.[2]

Columbiana City Hall
LocationMain St., Columbiana, Alabama
Coordinates33°10′38″N 86°36′26″W
Built1854
ArchitectMcCan & Williamson
NRHP reference No.74000437[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 29, 1974
Designated ARLHJanuary 25, 2011

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 1974.[1] It was subsequently listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on January 25, 2011.[3]

Shelby County Courthouse Historical Marker

In 1826, Columbiana, Alabama won an election against Montevallo, Alabama to house the courthouse. The people of Columbiana threw a huge celebration which involved the destruction of a tree sitting in the very spot they planned to move and build the courthouse. To destroy the tree, gunpowder was packed into holes that had been drilled into the tree. Once ignited, the blast was said to have been heard for miles. The wood building which was built following this celebration no longer stands and was replaced with the Old Shelby County Courthouse in 1854.[4]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "History". Shelby County Tourism. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  3. "The Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage". preserveala.org. Alabama Historical Commission. September 17, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  4. The Heritage of Shelby County, Alabama. Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc. 1999. p. 9. ISBN 1891647210.

Media related to Old Shelby County Courthouse at Wikimedia Commons


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