Architectural & Historical Highlights

• Built: Between 1916 and 1918.
• Style: Beaux‑Arts/Classical Revival—crafted in cream‑colored brick and concrete, adorned with terra cotta detailing, and featuring an impressive two-part structure: a three‑story courtroom wing facing Main Street and a taller six‑ to eight‑story tower behind it.
• Designers & Builders: Georgia architect Phillip Thornton Marye led the design, with H. Olin Jones supervising and J. A. Jones (Charlotte) overseeing construction.
• Function Over Time:
  • Served as Greenville County’s primary courthouse from 1918 until 1950.
  • Then became home to the Family Court until 1991
• Recognition: Added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 7, 1994, as a premier example of monumental early‑20th‑century civic architecture in the Piedmont region

This building isn’t just architecturally significant—it also witnessed one of the most monumental legal proceedings of its era: the 1947 trial of 31 men for the lynching of Willie Earle, which was the largest lynching trial in U.S. history. Though all accused were acquitted, the event had profound implications for civil rights and federal justice. A state historical marker at the courthouse commemorates this landmark trial

The building has been sensitively repurposed. While retaining its historic charm—especially the grand courtroom—with its dignified columns, ornate cornices, and notable façades, it now houses shops, offices, and a bookstore, cleverly built into former spaces like the basement. A historical plaque detailing the Earle trial stands nearby, allowing visitors to reflect on the deeper social narratives embedded in this site.

• Address: 130 S. Main St, Greenville, SC 29601
• Hours & Access: Typically open weekdays 8:30 AM–5 PM (though interior access may depend on tenant schedules)
• Downtown Amenities: Situated in a pedestrian-friendly zone, it’s close to cafes, boutiques, parks, and green spaces—great for a stroll or sightseeing while enjoying the city’s vibrant character.