Lady Justice, Clean and Proud, Looks Over County Courthouse

By VICTORIA KIRKPATRICK
The Meriwether County Courthouse renovation work is continuing as the Meriwether County Commissioners work to protect its historical significance and make sure the building is capable of servicing the citizens of the county.
At the present time the Lady Justice statue and the dome has been completed and is shining white.
The story behind the Lady Justice is a simple one. Lady Justice’s origins date back to the Greeks and stands for law and order. She holds the scales of justice in her hand that represents the pursuit of fairness in a court of law.
The history of the Meriwether County Courthouse dates back to the 1800s. According to research found at the Meriwether County Historical Society, the Neoclassical Revival-style of the courthouse boasts distinctive architectural features, with its history tracing back to 1832 when Meriwether County’s inaugural courthouse, a two-story brick structure, was built.
Following a devastating tornado in 1893 that severely damaged the building, it was rebuilt and functioned until its successor was completed in 1904.
A fire ravaged the building in 1976, leaving only the brick exterior walls intact. A comprehensive restoration project, undertaken from 1977 to 1980, rebuilt the courthouse within its original walls but significantly reconfigured the interior to expand office space.
The renovation included eliminating the rotunda, excavating a basement, and reducing ceiling space to accommodate three floors instead of two.
Notably, a half-ton French bell was installed in the clock tower, and a statue of Justice, the female muse, was placed atop the tower. Displaying Lady Justice at the pinnacle of courthouses draws upon classical symbolism to effectively communicate the foundational ideals of the law to the community.
The Lady Justice statue was initially positioned atop the Meriwether County Courthouse in Greenville, during its construction from 1903 to 1904.
The building underwent a major restoration between 1977 and 1980 after a severe fire in 1976; nonetheless, historical documents show that the statue, known as the ‘female muse Justice,’ was an integral component of the original neoclassical design conceived by architect J.W. Golucke.