The dedication of the Alleghany County Courthouse will be 3:30 P.M. Saturday, May 16th, 2009.

Program of Events
Welcome	the Honorable Ken Richardson, Chairman of the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners
Mistress of Ceremonies	the Honorable Susie Gambill, Clerk of Superior Court of Alleghany County
Introduction	the Honorable Richard L. Doughton, Special Superior Court Judge
Keynote Address	the Honorable Sarah E. Parker, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina
Remarks	the Honorable Edgar B. Gregory, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge
	the Honorable Mitchell L. McLean, Chief District Court Judge
	the Honorable Thomas E. Horner, District Attorney
	the Honorable John Miller, Mayor of the Town of Sparta
Reception to follow at the Alleghany Senior Center Behind the Courthouse

The keynote speaker will be Sarah Parker, Chief Justice of NC Supreme Court.

The Alleghany Courthouse was originally built in 1910 by the B.F. Smith Fireproof Construction Co. of Washington, D.C.The building nearing its centennial anniversary, however, was almost totally destroyed by a fire in January of 1933 that swept through downtown, Sparta.

Although the fire badly damaged the building, the back portion remained standing and only the front was destroyed. The fire apparently jumped the street when birds' nests in the belfry of the courthouse caught fire from sparks blown across the street. However, the board sidewalks of the town have also been blamed for spreading the fire.

Floyd Crouse who practiced law in the county courthouse helped by throwing the county's deed books out the window to save them.

	Alleghany Courthouse before and after 1933 fire.

It was rebuilt under the supervision of architect Harry Barton, in the Classical Revival style. If the current building lacks some of the grace and grandeur of the old building, it is because rebuilding funds were tight due to the Great Depression.

In December of 2005, work to modernize the building began. Renovations included a new roof on the facility and windows were replaced with double-paned, insulated aluminum units. The courtroom was updated with new carpet and paint.

A back stairwell was removed which created additional space that now includes the judge's chamber, a renovated jury room, an additional conference room for attorneys to meet with clients, and new storage areas.

Information from Alleghany News and Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society.