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Friday, January 10, 2014

Random Five Friday Fences-Botetourt Courthouse

(click on photo to enlarge)

Botetourt County Courthouse in Fincastle
The Botetourt County Courthouse was built in 1848; it suffered a severe fire in the 1970s and was rebuilt. The plans for the courthouse that preceded this one were drawn by Thomas Jefferson.Genealogists from around the country can find original, primary source documents in the County Clerks Office located within the Courthouse. Info found HERE and I've shown you another photo HERE

Linking with Friday Fences

Randoms:

1) Muir: "I've always thought the small hours was a deep, tender, and terrible time. Late at night all the fat and sweetness of things are gone, and you feel hard up against the cold bare facts. If you think too much in the wee hours your life don't seem worth nothing. Late at night you feel stripped down to the bone and facing the emptiness and awfulness of the world." A passage I like from the book I am reading


2) The boys had a scrimmage game last night at Central Academy Middle School in Fincastle. As I was driving us there and passing the courthouse I thought "hmmm, how funny, I've decided to feature the court house for Friday's post so I should pull over and get a night shot of it." And so I did:

(click on photo to enlarge)

3) I have used the old records inside of the court house for, well, old records. When we first moved here, we bought a very old house, 150+ years old. I went to the court house to find records on it. The people there were so nice and helpful. The woman who helped me knew the family who had it in their family for much of the 20th century. We knew that that gorgeous old house would never be the "Breese House" and would always be known as the "Hancock House". I am at peace with knowing it is back in their family now.

4) We watched Despicable Me 2 this week. Rent it, or buy it, but watch it. So cute!

5) Speaking of buying movies, I used to buy new releases that I thought we would love the day they came out. Now I can't remember the last time I bought an actual dvd (not counting my workout dvd's). Although I did buy The Conjuring on Hulu a couple of months back. I guess that's the way of movies now...

6) Did I say 6? Why yes, yes I did! Lucky you, I just remembered this site I wanted to share with you, if you are an avid reader, Book Perk. Enter your email address and every day they send you "book perks" for your e-reader. This week I purchased
for $1.99! I love Adriana Trigiani and will start this book when I finish This Rock.





Check out more randoms HERE

Have a great weekend!! :)

**UPDATE**

Ciel was wondering if the courthouse was rebuilt to look the same as the original and I found this old photo of it:
(click photo to enlarge)

and a newpaper article about the fire, you can read that HERE


32 comments:

  1. Now I'm wondering: was it rebuilt too look exactly like the one that Jefferson designed? I really like it, halfway between a church and a courthouse!

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  2. That is an impressive courthouse. It looks well maintained too.

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  3. we were hanging out with friend when the Despicable Me 2, 1st came out & we loved it. it was hilarious!! i really love Steve Carrell any way, he is a great actor. Anchorman, the movie where is he God, pooh all of a sudden i can't remember the title?!! that is too funny! he is just too great. happy weekend!! ( :

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  4. I have not heard of that place for free/cheap books but I have about four others that I get emails from....Book Gorilla is my favorite. This reminds me of something I wish I had used in my five...I was going through my wishlist of books the other day...one of them was free at the time I looked, and one had went form aprox $10, down to 99 cents!

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  5. Beautiful building. I like the angle of the first shot.

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  6. I love town history! That is so cool about the original courthouse plans being drawn up by Thomas Jefferson!!! We moved into an old home and it is still known by the previous owners name. That's the way it goes...

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  7. They did a pretty decent job in the rebuild, keeping some architectural features! There's so much history in that part of the world (and loved the Muir quote!)

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  8. Thanks for the book recommendations. I really enjoy seeing old courthouses -- nothing quite like them and such great history. I can't remember when I was last at the movies. Happy Friday!

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  9. Impressive- the Court House, and the night shot and reading that Jefferson was the original architect! We enjoyed DM2-and I will look into free e books, living in Europe limits my Western e book and kindle down loads -(.

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  10. it's a beautiful courthouse - both day and night. i really liked that quote, too.

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  11. I really want to see Despicable Me 2. I keep checking the libraries. One day I'll catch a copy in.
    Neat courthouse. interesting about the fire.

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  12. It does look very similar to the original building, have a great weekend!

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  13. Love the 2 shots of the courthouse...day & night so different. And thanks for the "book perk" I use pixel of ink and book bub for daily emails and have gotten some great reads lately.

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  14. The conjuring. im yet to see it. How does it rank on the Tanya-meter? I love that photo of the courthouse. Hope you have a great, snowy???? weekend :)

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    1. the tanya-meter ranks it at about an 8, so yes, you must see it! i love scary movies! ...nope, no snow in the forecast, just rain, yuck!

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  15. How neat that you were able to research your house... I have a little information on ours -- it was a stock farm back in 1908 (the family supplied cattle to the local farmers/ranchers.)

    Thanks for joining in Tanya -- always so interesting and I learn so much. xo

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    1. well it helped a bunch that the family who had it for about 50 years lived right next door and filled me in on so much. there was a family reunion of the actual builder of the house in town and i was able to invite them in...now it's back with the rightful owners! i know, i LOVE random 5 friday :)

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  16. It's a very attractive building and I appreciate the historical commentary also!

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  17. Thanks for the tip on the book site.

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  18. I'm glad they rebuilt the courthouse! It looks really nice. And that quote about nighttime is so deep and so true.

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  19. Those are amazing shots of the courthouse. I used to go to the neighboring county and browse through their old records for genealogical purposes. They certainly let you do that anymore.

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  20. That's a nice building! I like the old style of architecture more than some of the modern stuff.

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  21. Interesting pictures and so nice seeing it at night!

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  22. Beautiful building! Looks gerat on day and at night!
    Have a nice weekend!

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  23. I find recent history quite interesting so your post is right up my alley! Love your photo and the ones you found in the archives.

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  24. This is a very beautiful courthouse. Love the night shot!
    Have a nice weekend.

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  25. My husband and his father were volunteer firefighters who fought the courthouse blaze. It was right around the holidays and cold; there was a backdraft and flames flew up the back side of the building. The vault where the records are is fireproof and it preserved most of the original records, but this fire was the reason the Virginia General Assembly made changes so that copies of all records now go to different depositories. Rebuilding the courthouse took a long time and was done with donations and fundraisers.

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  26. Nice perspective on the courthouse photo, Tanya.

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  27. Hello Tanya, I am a first-time visitor and enjoyed reading this post and others. We currently live on the VA eastern shore (natives of NJ) and about a 1-1/2 ago we took a Blue Ridge road trip, stopping in Finncastle (met a fellow blogger there) and we spent some time exploring the area, including this courthouse. Thanks for giving me a nice trip down memory lane today.

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Hi! I'm so happy you've stopped by and always enjoy your comments :)