Bath County Courthouse reaches 150 year milestone

At noon, the awaited moment came the striking of the bell to signify the completion of the clock tower’s renovations. Photos by Rob Kiskaden.

The Bath County Courthouse reached a milestone of 150 years. A commemoration ceremony was held Thursday, Oct. 27, attended by several from the community, along with local government officials and a representative from Congressman Andy Barr’s office.

Judge Executive Bobby Rogers addressed the crowd, updating everyone about the extensive renovations that have been under way the past several months.

“With the help of Jailer Earl Willis and the inmate work program, we’ve got a lot accomplished,” said Judge Rogers. The inmate workers painted the building and made minor repairs to the structure. They have also been working on the second floor hallway and will soon work on the courtroom, which is the site of a proposed museum. Major structural repairs were contracted to TJ Construction, including the work on the bell tower.

Tourism chairman Brent Frizzell spoke about the history of the courthouse; from the earliest days of court being held at the home of James Young on Flat Creek, to the accidental burning of the second courthouse during the Civil War, and the 1903 restoration and modifications of the current courthouse. He talked about the future plans of a museum that will be in the courtroom, which will house historic relics from Bath County’s past.

It has been a subject of debate on social media of when the last time the courthouse bell struck on the hour, but according to Danny ‘Greasy’ Belcher who has helped maintain the clock, it has been 20 years. Belcher has been the man who has set the clock and helped bring it back to life during the recent renovations.

Tourism council member Rob Kiskaden was asked by Judge Rogers to tell the story of the killing of Pliny Fassett and the mysterious writing on the wall in the attic stairwell.

Tatum Dale from Congressman Andy Barr’s office gave a dedication proclamation to Judge Executive Bobby Rogers, commending the continued service and historic value the Bath County Courthouse has brought to the community for the last 150 years. After a few more remarks by Judge Rogers, several people took the opportunity to tour the third floor landing and to see the ghostly writing on the wall about the Fassett killing.

At noon, the awaited moment came the striking of the bell to signify the completion of the clock tower’s renovations. For the first time in a number of years, the courthouse came to life again as the bell struck twelve times. The crowd applauded, with many stating the sound of the bell brought back some cherished memories.

Judge Executive Rogers updated the crowd about a new judicial center to be built at a later date, replacing the Bath County Courthouse Annex with a larger, more efficient facility. While the days of the annex building are numbered, one thing is for certain; the 150-year-old courthouse will continue to stand as a local historic monument for generations to come.