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Tag: Fairfield County Courthouse

  • Ribbon cut on newly renovated courthouse

    Monday’s ribbon cutting was held at the courthouse’s new rear entrance with town and county council members, school board members, town attorneys and other town and county officials lined up behind the red ribbon, which was cut by County Council Chair Clarence Gilbert, Clerk to Court Dorothy Belton, and County Administrator Vic Carpenter.

    WINNSBORO – The newly renovated Courthouse in downtown Winnsboro was christened Monday afternoon with a ribbon cutting, speeches and refreshments.

    The new renovations to the circa 1823 Robert Mills designed Courthouse have brought a new look to the more than 200-year-old Courthouse – the back rather than the front.

    Because of safety concerns and other reasons, the stately front entrance to the Courthouse is no longer open to the public. The new glass, steel, and stucco entrance is at the back of the building where security is more easily attainable, and the look is more modern than classic.

    Monday’s ribbon cutting was held at the new rear entrance with town and county council members, school board members, town attorneys and other town and county officials lined up behind the red ribbon that was cut by County Council Chair Clarence Gilbert, Clerk to Court Dorothy Belton, and County Administrator Vic Carpenter.

    Following the ribbon cutting, those attending moved into the main hallway in the older portion of the Courthouse for official remarks from several county officials, then refreshments and photos.

    • County Administrator Vic Carpenter
    • Clerk to Court Dorothy Belton and House Dist. 41 Representative Annie McDaniel
    • Sheriff Will Montgomery and former Ridgeway Councilman Don Prioleau

    “Fairfield County is proud of the time and effort it has taken to make this project happen,” said Carpenter, the first of the several speakers that included Clerk of Court Dorothy Belton. “Countless hours of dedicated commitment have led to this ribbon cutting today for the Fairfield County Courthouse.

    “Courthouses represent the ideal we all strive for in this country,” he said. “Their purpose is the blind delivery of justice and the law. Two hundred years ago, this structure was first opened with that goal in mind.”

    Carpenter reminded those in attendance, however, that, sadly, the desired blindness has not always occurred. But, he said the people still, to this day, desire and work towards outcomes that treat everyone equally under the law.

    “Today, we rededicate this Courthouse with that goal in mind,” he said. “The leaders of our Courts and constitutional offices all are charged with upholding the Constitutions of both South Carolina and the United States. The preamble of the U.S. Constitution says it best:

    “‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’

    “We dedicate today this Courthouse with that overarching goal always in front of us,” Carpenter said. “May we always live up to the standards and expectations placed in front of us.”

    When It All Began

    According to City Directories and History, portions of the current Courthouse were designed by one of America’s early architects, Robert Mills, and built in 1823 by William McCreight & Sons of Winnsboro.

    “The Courthouse was originally only the two-story main court room upstairs with offices beneath. In 1938, a major renovation to the building added the back three story addition as well as the curving case iron stairways on the front.

    “The front section facing South Congress Street and the columns were added at a later date, and the circular stairs were added in 1939 when extensive restoration and enlargement were undertaken,” according to the City Directories and History.

    Jared Davison, Institutional Trust Consultant; Fairfield County Treasurer Norma Branham; Derek Raper, Commercial Banking Senior Vice President; Fairfield County Deputy Treasurer Rhonda Trapp
    • Jason Pope, Winnsboro Town Manager Chris Clauson, Tim Marthers and Darryl Adams
    • SC House Representative Annie McDaniel and Councilwoman Peggy Swearingen

  • Courthouse repairs, upgrades begin

    Bryant Brown with GMK architectural firm in Columbia shows off new look of rear of courthouse. | Barbara Ball

    WINNSBORO – Renovations to the Fairfield County Courthouse that are funded with bond money remaining from the 2013, $24 million Fairfield Facilities Corporation bond, may soon be underway.

    Bryant Brown, an architect with GMK Associates in Columbia, presented information to council Monday night about how those renovations and repairs are going to proceed.

    “You have a very unique building,” Bryant said. He said GMK works with Robert Mills courthouses that need renovation all across the state.

    “One of the things you asked us to do is an evaluation of the building, to look at the mechanicals, at what needs to be done for safety, ADA compliance, the walls and all the things in the building that need to be repaired. The vast majority of the problems are mechanical,” he said. “They [mechanicals] are old and need to be upgraded.”

    Brown said the evaluation is in the final stages.

    “We finished the study last year and we’re now in the first phase of the renovation – to go in and start working on the restrooms. They all have to be updated. The second phase will build a new addition to the back of the building,” he said. “One of the keys to this is to keep the work inside going as we move through the phases. We’re going to be working with the parking area and the infrastructure underneath it.”

    Bryant also addressed the moisture problems, saying the mold is nothing that can’t be corrected.

    “We’ve got to control the humidity in there. The new air conditioning system will address this situation and make a huge difference,” he said.

    “We’re pulling everything together now, getting pricing for our budget,” he said.

    Displaying both an aerial view of the Courthouse grounds as well as an artist’s rendition of the new look of the back of the building, Bryant explained that entrance to the building would be from the dressed up back of the building.

    “The reason for this entrance upgrade is for safety and protection. It will separate the employee population from visitors to the Courthouse,” he said. He also explained that while the curved iron steps on the front of the building are not ADA compliant, the back will accommodate access to the second and third floors of the building.

    When there was some discussion in 2016 about building a new Courthouse, members of the bar in Fairfield County weighed in on the uniqueness, grandeur and practicality of the current building, calling for it to be saved at all costs.

    “Ours is, by far, the best Courthouse in the state of South Carolina when you consider the practical nature of the courtroom, the comfort it affords the litigants, the great acoustics and the historical significance of the Courthouse, itself, which was designed by Robert Mills,” Winnsboro attorney Creighton Coleman said in an interview with The Voice. “Some things could be improved a little, but it should not be scuttled. It’s a wonderful courtroom and Courthouse,” Coleman said, “and we should keep it as our Courthouse.”

    Bryant said the cost of the renovations are estimated at $5.3 million but that number, he said, includes all the bells and whistles and that some things could be cut out to accommodate the $4.2 – $4.3 million that is left in the bond money.

    He said the renovation will start in the next two to three weeks and will take a little over a year to complete.

    “I’ve worked on other buildings like this, one in Camden, and this building is in comparatively pretty good shape,” Bryant said. “You’re very blessed for that. You’ve taken good care of it for all these years.”

    Designed by Robert Mills, the Courthouse was built in 1823-1824.

  • Matthews invested as Family Court Judge

    WINNSBORO – Winnsboro attorney Debra Matthews was elected Family Court Judge for seat 2 in the Sixth Judicial Circuit on Feb. 7, to fill the unexpired term of the Honorable W. Thomas Sprott, Jr. Matthews’ investiture was held on Monday, March 5 in the Courtroom of the Fairfield County Courthouse.

    Judge Paul E. Short, Jr. presided over the investiture that was attended by many elected officials, judges and local attorneys as well as Matthews’ family and friends.

    Several of her colleagues spoke during the ceremony, including Family Court Judge Gwendolyn Jones, who told the audience that she has been friends with Matthews since the two, as young attorneys, began their law careers in Winnsboro.

    “Patience and a calm demeanor are the most important characteristics needed for this difficult job,” Jones said, addressing the audience. “Family Court is an extremely emotional area and, Debra, you possess these necessary characteristics, without a doubt. You are firm and deliberate, yet calm and courteous at all times.”

    “I want you to understand that you cannot fix every situation that comes your way, no matter how hard you try. All you can do is your best,” Jones said.

    In offering guidance to Matthews for what lies ahead in her new career, Jones referenced Matthews’s husband who died last summer after battling cancer for several years.

    “Although you were the wife of a residential builder for 28 years, the mother of two sons who are residential builders and you, yourself, hold a residential builder’s license, you cannot fix it all.

    “My dear friend, Debra, you are strong, resilient and a smart, beautiful addition to the bench. Welcome to our wonderful family court. You’ll do well,” Jones said.

    Winnsboro attorney and longtime friend Creighton Coleman praised Matthews for “doing things right.”

    “She has good corporate skills, she has a good temperament, a good work ethic and she’s honest and trustworthy,” Coleman said.

    “Historically, the Sixth Circuit is known to produce some of the finest judges in South Carolina,” Coleman said. “In my opinion, Debra, you will emulate those judges who have served South Carolina well. You will do a great job. We’re proud of you.”

    The investiture concluded with Matthew’s sons, Jody and Raymond, Jr., assisting their mother in donning her robe. Matthews then raised her sons’ hands high and smiled broadly.

    Following the investiture, a reception was held at the Woman’s Club.

    Matthews earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at Stockton State University and her Juris Doctorate degree in 1999 from Widener University in the State of Delaware.

    After being admitted to practice in 2001, Matthews opened a private practice in Winnsboro. As a general practitioner, she concentrated in civil and criminal litigation with a heavy emphasis on family law.  Matthews has served as guardian ad litem and as a contract attorney with the South Carolina Commission of Indigent Defense for vulnerable adults, abuse and neglect cases.  She has handled a variety of family law cases.  Her practice also entailed consumer bankruptcy filings in the United States Bankruptcy Court since 2002.

    Judge Matthews was certified as a family court mediator and circuit court mediator in 2010, and is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts in South Carolina. She is an active member of the community, having served on the Mid County Water Board, the 6th Judicial Circuit Public Defender Board and the Public Defender Selection Board. Matthews has dedicated her time to the South Carolina Bar pro bono and mock trial programs and serves in her church, St. Theresa’s in Winnsboro, on the finance committee.