A new historical marker has been placed in front of the Claiborne Courthouse, across from the front entrance to The Chimes Restaurant in Covington. Here are some photos of the ribbon cutting dedicating it.
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Mayor Mark Johnson cuts the ribbon.
Jack Terry points out the key historical information.
The first courthouse for St. Tammany (and Washington Parishes) was up near Enon. Four years after it was designated, they decided to move the parish seat to Claiborne across the river from Covington. The Claiborne Company had purchased a portion of the Kleinschmidt Spanish land grant in 1813. In exchange for the commission naming the Town of Claiborne as the parish seat, the Claiborne Company offered some of its land and agreed to build a courthouse and jail for the parish, free of charge."
"Robert Layton told them (the group seeking a parish seat) that he'd build a courthouse if they made Claiborne the parish seat," said retired Judge Steve Ellis, a parish historian. This resulted in the second St. Tammany Parish courthouse being built in the Town of Claiborne just east and across the river from Covington. It cost around $20,000 to build. The structure was completed and opened for business on April 12, 1819.
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