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The history of the City of Newport News as a unit of government dates to the
early period of English Colonization when the Great Charter of 1617 provided
that the colony would be divided into four corporations: the Peninsula and South
Hampton Roads being named Elizabeth City. Each corporation held Quarter
Courts and civil government replaced the courts martial and military rule of the
early period. In 1619, the first representative assembly was held at Jamestown
and the conditions were improved for permanent and rapid expansion of the
colony. In 1634, the courts, justices of the peace, county militia, a
sheriff, and parishes of the Established Church. Warwick River Shire,
later Warwick County formed from the Corporation of Elizabeth City was one of
these eight shires and included the lands which in 1958 became the present City
of Newport News.
The first local county courts were held at Mathew's Manor in Denbigh
Parish. By 1680, a courthouse had been built at Warwicktown, a little
village with a warehouse and ferry. The city farm is now located on that
site. In 1810, the center of county activity was moved to Stoney Run on
the Warwick Road and named Warwick Court House. The brick courthouse built
at this location still stands on the two acres set aside by the Code of the
Commonwealth. The clerk's office, jail, stocks, pillory and hipping post
have vanished. It was in this 1810 building that the initial transactions
for the train, shipyard and municipal improvements for Newport News were
recorded by the agents of Collis P. Huntington. In 1884, a larger
Courthouse was built for Warwick County. By 1892, the center of government
had moved to a site close to the shipyard and a fine building was erected (since
razed). When the City was incorporated in 1896, the County government
returned to Warwick Court House. The buildings there remained in use even
after Warwick County incorporated as a city in 1952 when many administrative
functions were moved to Hilton. From 1960 to 1999, the 1884 building was
used as the Denbigh Community Centre. The 1810 building became Grissom
Library and was later restored to a conjectured 1810 appearance. The
entire site is on the National Register of Historical Places and is administered
by the Newport News-Warwick Historical Preservation Association. The
Tidewater Genealogical Society has a permanent home in the 1884 building and the
1810 building is now used as a museum to display artifacts and interpret the
history of the city.
With considerable financial support from the General Assembly, the City of
Newport News, the Federal Government, and private contributions, the 1884
building is being restored and adapted for contemporary uses.
This historical complex is the oldest publicly held property in the City of
Newport News, which as a successor to Warwick County is one of the oldest units
of law and equity and local government in the United States. The plan for
the future is to use the facilities as a center for history and genealogy
with assembly rooms for community events and historical interpretation.
To
contribute to the Restoration Fund, to find a secure repository for photos,
papers and artifacts or to join us as a member, please contact:
Newport News-Warwick Historical
Preservation Association, Inc.
John Churchill, Treasurer
P.O. Box 1812
Newport News, VA 23601
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