Lexington County Courthouse

National Register Listing

Street Address:

139 East Main St., Lexington, SC (Lexington County)

Alternate Name:

Old Lexington County Courthouse

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NRHP Nomination Form

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Record Number:

S10817732059

Description and Narrative:

The Lexington County Courthouse, constructed in 1939 with federal funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA), is architecturally significant as an example of the modern yet restrained classical architectural elements typical of New Deal buildings. This Modern Classic or PWA Moderne style is rare for courthouses in South Carolina, as only one other National Register-listed county courthouse in the state (Beaufort) has a similar Depression-era design. These styles, popular from 1933 to 1944, feature classical organization with restrained Art Deco ornamentation. Classical elements are simplified, column capitals tend to be abstracted or deemphasized, and sculptural features are minimized or recede into the masonry. It is also significant as an excellent local example of the work of the well-known Columbia architect, J. Carroll Johnson, and designing partner of Lexington County native Jesse W. Wessinger, in the Columbia firm of Wessinger and Johnson. The courthouse reflects the federal government's involvement in South Carolina's economy and architecture through the New Deal work relief projects. Listed in the National Register April 21, 2014.

Period of Significance:

1939

Level of Significance:

Local

Area of Significance:

Architecture

National Register Determination:

listed

Date of Certification:

2014-04-21

Date of Boundary Increase:

No Boundary Increase

County:

Lexington County

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