A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring the memory of some of edenton's historical Leaders and recognizing the historical significance of the chowan county courthouse of 1767.
Whereas, the General Assembly convened in the Town of Edenton, which at the time was recognized as the capital of North Carolina, from 1722 to 1737, 1740 to 1741, and in 1743; and
Whereas, during the November 1766 Session of the General Assembly, a bill introduced by Joseph Hewes, an Edenton merchant and assemblyman, who would later become a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was passed to build a new courthouse in Edenton; and
Whereas, it is known that the Chowan County Courthouse was built in 1767, but early records give few details about the structure's builders, financing, or architect, although many believe the likely architect was John Hawks, who was also the architect for Tryon Palace in New Bern; and
Whereas, the Georgian style courthouse included a second floor assembly room, which was the largest fully paneled room in colonial America; and 
Whereas, the courthouse, which was also used for county government functions, became the center of the community's social life and was the site where 12 lanterns were placed to celebrate the State's approval of the federal constitution in 1789; and
Whereas, during the late 1700s, some of Edenton's prominent citizens included: Hugh Williamson, a physician, who signed the federal constitution in 1787; Samuel Johnston, a member of the colonial assembly, who later served as Governor of North Carolina from 1787 to 1789 and as the State's first elected United States Senator from 1789 to 1793; and James Iredell, Sr., a State supreme court judge, who was later appointed to the first United States Supreme Court by President George Washington in 1790; and
Whereas, in 1819, during an official visit to the State, President James Monroe and his Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun, were entertained in the courthouse's assembly room; and
Whereas, the courthouse has remained a significant part of the legal, political, and social life in the Edenton community for many decades and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1970; and
Whereas, the first floor of the courthouse was used continuously until 1996 when the courthouse was temporarily closed for renovations; and
Whereas, in 2001, archaeologists digging under the courthouse uncovered the foundation of the 1722 Council Chamber, the State's first capitol building used during the colonial era; and
Whereas, on October 8, 2004, the courthouse was reopened and rededicated to public use after undergoing an extensive restoration that was made possible by generous financial contributions, a grant from the Save America's Treasures program; and the collaborative efforts of Chowan County, the Town of Edenton, the Edenton Historical Commission, the citizens of Edenton, and the State of North Carolina; and 
Whereas, on the occasion of its reopening, the North Carolina State Supreme Court held a session in the courthouse, the first time in 144 years the Supreme Court had met outside of Raleigh; and
Whereas, among other uses, the renovated courthouse will be used for nonjury court sessions as well as a meeting place for civic groups and nonprofit organizations; and 
Whereas, the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse is the State's oldest government building and the nation's best preserved colonial courthouse; and
Whereas, although routinely called "the finest Georgian courthouse in the South," the 1767 courthouse is – as it always has been – a building far from routine; and
Whereas, the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse is the oldest courthouse still in continuous use in North America; and
Whereas, on May 25, 2005, the North Carolina House of Representatives will convene in the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse for a legislative session, returning to Edenton for the first time in 262 years; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The North Carolina House of Representatives honors the memory of Edenton's historical leaders for their service to the State of North Carolina and to the nation.
SECTION 2.  The North Carolina House of Representatives recognizes the importance of the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse and expresses its gratitude to those who contributed to the preservation of one of the State's most important historic treasures.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Chowan County Board of Commissioners.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.