Generally, they sit as the centerpiece of a town.
For some, they no longer serve as the centerpiece of government, now little more than a half-occupied office building housing only one or two government offices. But courthouses are the heart of a community.
Historic courthouses have a certain sentiment to them, enthusiasts and government officials say. But, as they age, they are often too small for county government operations, leaving officials to either build new facilities or add on to existing structures.
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