Then and Now: The Westmoreland County Courthouse

The first image, a postcard from around 1908, shows the Westmoreland County Courthouse as it appeared in the early 20th century. The doorway pictured was once the building’s main public entrance. As the courthouse expanded and architectural additions were made over time, the orientation of the building shifted. Today, this same doorway serves as a side entrance, a visible reminder that the courthouse has evolved over generations rather than remaining fixed in a single moment.

Westmoreland County was established in 1653, with early court sessions held at various locations before a permanent courthouse site was established in Montross by the mid-18th century. The building that stands today reflects multiple phases of construction, incorporating earlier materials alongside major expansions in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, followed by further updates in the 20th century. The second more recent image shows the courthouse as it stands today, quiet under a blanket of snow. While its appearance and surroundings have changed, it continues to serve its original purpose as a center of public life and local government.

Together, these two images tell the story of a building shaped by time, use, and community. They remind us that history is not only preserved in archives and exhibits but also lived every day in places that continue to serve the public.

Which image speaks to you more: the postcard view from 1908, or the courthouse as it stands today?