Old Richmond County Courthouse
Also known as: Old Government House
Why it's listed
Built in 1801 as the Richmond County Courthouse, this brick building on Telfair Street in Augusta served the courts for about twenty years before the county outgrew it. It was then sold and became a private home, first for banker and former mayor Samuel Hale. Later owners included Paul Fitzsimmons, a member of a wealthy Charleston family, and the Murphey family, who held it for most of the period from 1877 to 1953. Its original plain Federal design was changed over time: wings, stucco and delicate ironwork gave it a Regency look, while Greek Revival doors and mantels and an Early Victorian stair were added later. The central block remains largely unaltered, and the wings were adapted for apartments. The Junior League restored it before Historic Augusta took ownership in 1972. The architects of the original building and additions are unknown. Its value lies in its governmental past, its prominent residents and its layered architecture.
Significance in brief: It is significant for its role in the social, architectural and governmental history of Augusta, serving first as the county courthouse and then as a home for prominent Georgia and South Carolina families. It is also a fine example of one building adapted through four architectural styles: Federal, Regency, Greek Revival and Early Victorian.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78001004, listed December 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 432 Telfair St., Augusta |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond County |
| Listed | December 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001004 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architectural style | Federal original, with Regency, Greek Revival and Early Victorian modifications |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in an excellent state of preservation, occupied and used as offices and headquarters of Historic Augusta, Inc., which hoped to sell it to a sympathetic owner. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.46931, -81.95935 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78001004.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084120
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.