This courthouse was completed in 1884 directly north of the site where the earlier courthouse had burned on the square in the center of Covington, Georgia. Newton County was taken from Henry, Jasper and Walton Counties in 1821 by an act of the Georgia legislature.
Newton County was named in honor of John Newton, whose heroic deeds included the freeing of captured American sailors who were being transported to Savannah for trial. He was captured after the surrender of Savannah and died in a prison camp established by the British.
Covington is named for Leonard Covington, who rose through the ranks to brigadier general. Covington, under the command of James Wilkerson, began moving up the St. Lawrence River towards Montreal when he unexpectedly came across two English regiments under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Morrison. Although the Americans outnumbered the British 5 to 2, they were soundly defeated because of Wilkerson's tactics. The engagement is known today as the Battle of Chrysler's Farm, although the entry for Covington in the Senate guide lists the battle as Chrysler's Field.
A Georgia Historical marker for the county is across the street in the square park, as is a monument honoring the Confederate dead.
Of the best-known of all Georgia county courthouses, the building was repeatedly featured in the television show, In The Heat of the Night. The series was filmed locally and settings within the city of Covington served as places for the fictional town of Sparta, Mississippi where the series took place.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR SMILEY!
You must answer the following questions (email your answers to gcribbs@pm.me or simply message me here)! PLEASE do not include any answers/spoilers in your log!
1) On the front of the historic courthouse, located at the corner to the right of the steps, you will find two historic markers affixed to the building. The original marker is a slab of engraved marble and the other is made of bronze. There is an obvious discrepancy between the two markers, what is it? (HINT: The bronze marker is wrong!)
2) According to the original marker, who was the Sheriff at the time the courthouse was built?
3) Who engraved the original marble marker?
4) You MUST cross the street, over to the square park, and get a selfie with the courthouse in the background and include it in your "Found it" log! Your selfie MUST BE IN YOUR LOG, not in the email with your answers!
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.