Aiken County celebrated the transfer of the Charles E. Simmons Jr. Federal Courthouse to ownership in late April with a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 17.
Those in attendance included representatives from the federal government, the former owner of the facility at 223 S. Park Ave. in downtown Aiken.
“We are very excited not only to have the courthouse coming to Aiken County, but to be able to continue to use it as a courthouse,” said Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker. “We still have some plans for that, but right now we're leaning very strongly toward going into traffic court. Traffic court is one of our busiest courts.” [and is] Located on Hampton Avenue. ”
In that case, the traffic courtroom will be on the second floor, where the courtroom is located.
“We are also in discussions with the Clerk of Courts (Bob Hart) to have certain events come here. [from the Aiken County Judicial Center] … to take over the first floor,” Bunker said.
Simmons Courthouse and Aiken's Old City Hall, which the county purchased for $2.4 million in April, will help alleviate overcrowding issues at the Aiken County Justice Center.
The Justice Center and Old City Hall are located on Park Avenue, as is Simons Courthouse.
Aiken County Governor Brian Sanders told the Aiken Standard earlier this month that the county paid $1 to acquire Simons Courthouse, which had not been used by the federal government for some time.
Historic Aiken Foundation President Linda Johnson cut the blue ribbon during a May 17 ceremony on the front steps of Simon's Courthouse.
In advance, Bunker thanked her and the Historical Foundation for assisting the county with the necessary paperwork to effectuate the transfer of ownership.
Built in the 1930s, Simon's Court House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 22,919-square-foot building is a “wonderful Georgian Revival design with charming Art Deco features,” Johnson said. “But perhaps the most important feature is the Stephen Hirsch mural. It's literally a national treasure and it's here in Aiken. It will be preserved here in Aiken and thanks to the county it will be accessible to the public.”
