The Fairfax County Courthouse

and Con

rdinary, and to negotiate for purchase of a two-acre parcel.[23] The commissioners' report was not favorable to the site, however, and negotiations for other land continued until, in May 1798, a group of commissioners was appointed to inspect a site at Earp's Corner (between

earlier, as indicated by the following notice appea

g out the erection of the necessary Public Buildings to the lowest bidder. As they have

les

d St

iam

es

es Mi

ykes. They completed the construction of the courthouse late in 1799, and on January 27, 1800, the Commissioners reported to the County Co

and other grounds comprising the courthouse compound.[29] Accordingly, in March 1800 the Court ordered William Payne to prepare a new survey of the compound, enlarged to accommodate all of the facilit

ere accomplished by March 1800, so that the Columbia Mirror and Alexa

New Court House, in the Center of the County, where suitors and others who

hile, in Alexandria, the Mayor and Council adopted a resolution giving to Peter Wagener the title to

use and the Tow

early 1800's, led naturally to the growth of a community around the courthouse. In the vicinity of the crossroads a few buildings antedated the courthous

a new town at Earp's store, to be named Providence.[34] The future growth of the town was forecast in a plat la

ops and stores to serve the local residents and travellers on the turnpike, and, on the north side of the turnpike, a store was established by a man named Gerard Boiling.[37] Also, a school for girls

frame buildings), 3 mercantile stores, 4 taverns, and one school."[39] The "mechanics" located in the town included boot and shoe makers, saddlers, blacksmiths and tailors. The town's population totalled 200,

o trade, transact their business at the courthouse, and exchange the news of the day. By the 1830's the schedule of court days had expanded to include sessions of

ct the court, but this number generally was small enough so that no hardship was suffered by those who had to leave their private concerns. In every third month, the meetings of th

, wagons, and herds along the Little River Turnpike was the main form of contact which residents had with areas outside the locality. This situation continued even after the coming of the railroads, for when the Orange & Alexandria Railroad was chartered in 1848, its route w

p's Store laid off for the courthouse and other publi

ng the courthouse laid off for the prison bou

LARGE

ouse intended for the prison bounds. Fai

urthouse lot, laid off for the Clerk of the County and hi

LARGE

FOR CH

y Court Order Book

d., pp.

unty Deed Book

exandria Gazette published his signed statement thanking the captain of the ship "Two Sisters" for a good voyage. In the August 1, 1795 issue of the Gazet

ounty Deed Boo

Record of Surveys,

ounty Deed Boo

of Courts, Thomas Chapman of Fair

Moss, was summoned to appear and show cause why he had not paid the contractors in conformance with the commissioners' report accepting the buildings. Moss produced

, Old Alexa

ry of Fairfax County", Yearbook of the Histo

Ibid.

ounty Deed Boo

Town of Fai

Ratcliffe who had provided the four-acre tract on whi

] I

ttesville, 1835), p. 168. The name "Providence" apparently was less favored tha

t, Fairf

Gazetteer,

in Fairfax County", Yearbook of the Historica