New London County Courthouse

New London County Courthouse
Copyright 1905	Copyright 1905	Postmarked 1906
Copyright 1907	Postmarked 1907	Published Pre-March 1907
Postmarked 1907	Postmarked 1915	Postmarked 1918
f	Copyright 1925	Published 1932
Designed by Isaac Fitch of Lebanon, the New London County Courthouse first served as the city's Town Hall and Courthouse. Built in 1784, it was described by architectural historian William Warren as "an ambitious and expensive undertaking for a small region in the New Republic." The Courthouse was built to replace the courthouse burned by the British during the American Revolution. The original structure was crowned by a distinctive cupola, a Palladian window and fluted pilasters. American Patriot Patrick Henry argued cases in the Courthouse and other historical notables such as Daniel Webster, the Marquis de Lafayette and Horace Greeley spoke there. The building originally was located at the head of State Street in New London but in 1839 was moved back a little to its present location at the head of Huntington Street. The Courthouse, the oldest in Connecticut, is also one of the oldest Courthouses in the country in continuous use. After numerous renovations and additions it still serves New London County and surrounding areas in its capacity as the New London Judicial District Courthouse.