Augusta County held a groundbreaking ceremony for its long-awaited new courthouse on Friday. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
County leaders, state representatives, and practicing and retired judges gathered in Verona to celebrate the start of construction on the new courthouse. The project comes to fruition after a long struggle over how and where to renovate or move the court facilities. Many local residents were loath to let go of the historic circuit courthouse in Staunton, built in 1901.
But as County Administrator Timothy Fitzgerald explained –
TIMOTHY FITZGERALD: With each passing year, our judicial system strained under the weight of an ever-increasing caseload, with the demands of modern and more secure capabilities on our beautiful but space-constrained courthouse.
A county-wide referendum in 2016 shot down the proposal to move the courts to Verona – but didn't detail the higher costs that would be incurred by building within the confines of downtown Staunton. In 2021, Judge William Chapman Goodwin signed a show cause order that forced the board of supervisors to address the insecure conditions and disrepair of the courts.
WILLIAM CHAPMAN GOODWIN: We've been waiting for a long time and we're really excited to be getting started on this process. We hope, in two years, we'll be in. I'm retired now, but the young guys will be the first ones in.
In 2022, the General Assembly allowed the county to hold another referendum, and the Verona option won out. Supporter and lifelong county resident Ellen Wampler attended the groundbreaking.
HAGI: And are you excited that the courthouse is moving out to Verona?
ELLEN WAMPLER: Yes ma'am.
HAGI: Why is that?
WAMPLER: Because it's very much needed and it's a great location.
The county has yet to decide the future use of the 1901 courthouse.
