Cabell County Commission Courthouse & History of Cabell County, West Virginia

    Cabell County was created by an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, passed on January 2, 1809, and was named for William H. Cabell who was governor in 1805-08. Its territory was carved out of Kanawha county and contains all the present counties of Lincoln, Mingo and Wayne, and part of the present counties of Boone, Logan and Putnam.

 
A new site was selected between Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Seventh and Eighth Streets, which is the present site of the Courthouse today. The County Court composed of George W. Grobe, President, and B.H. Thackston and Thomas A. Bias, Commissioner, on July 29, 1892, acquired the location at a price of $24,757.00. On May 8, 1895, the County Court then composed of B. H. Thackston, President and C.H. Morris and C.C. Dickey, Commissioners entered an order that the court would receive plans and specifications for a courthouse.

"to be of stone and brick or of stone or brick, two stories, high slate or clay roof, lighted with gas and electricity, heated by steam or air, it must have three fronts and four entrances and must contain rooms for Circuit Court, for County Court and for clerk's offices of each court, with fire-proof clerk's offices or vaults attached and must range in cost from $60,000 to $100,000". The building when completed was built of Berea sandstone with a copper roof.

On July 21, 1896, the contract for the construction was let to Charles A. Moses. The first corner stone was laid on November 11, 1899, there was a parade and a grand ceremony. The Courthouse was completed on December 4, 1901 and the County Court entered an order declaring the structure ready for occupancy as a Courthouse for Cabell County and be used for county purposes from that day forward. In 1923 construction was undertaken on the west wing. The contract was awarded to King Lumber Company at a cost of $133,900.00 which cost was defrayed by a three year levy. Then, on August 22, 1938, Frampton & Bowers, Architects, were hired to prepare the plans for the new jail and for an east wing to the Courthouse. On December 28, 1938, the contract was awarded to Engstrom and Wynn of Wheeling, West Virginia, for this construction as well as some remodeling in parts of the old building. It was completed March 16, 1940. The cost of the east wing was $208,000.00 and the cost of the jail was $246,000.00 for a total cost of $454,000.00. Final payment was made upon completion of the work and acceptance of the structures.

At the present time, the Cabell County Courthouse is undergoing restoration to the exterior domes. Construction is being performed by Olentangy Restoration and is to be completed in May, 1997. The present Commissioners are: Gary L. Bunn, President, Earl "JR" Blankenship and Evelyn E. Richards, Commissioners.

Huntington

Originally called Holderby's Landing. Laid out as a town in 1869, by Collis P. Huntington of the C&O Railroad, and named for him when incorporated in 1871. Western end of C&O was where the first trains came from Richmond in 1873.



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