Lamar County - American Courthouses

Lamar County is named for Lucius Quintus C Lamar, who was an American politician and jurist from Mississippi and an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Jefferson Davis County and Covington County

E – Forrest County

S – Pearl River County

W – Marion County

Created: February 19,1904

Purvis 1904 – present

County Chancery Court Building – Purvis

Location: 403 Main Street / Mulberry Street

Built: 1996 – 1998

Style: Modern Greek Revival

Architect: Albert and Associates Architects

Contractor: Mac’s Construction Company, Inc.

Description: The building faces east and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Purvis. The east front has a central portico with two columns and two square pillars rising to an open pediment containing a clock above the roof line.. On the top of the pediment is the statue of Justice. On either end of the front are large arches. Along the front are vertical dividers with windows between. In the interior, the County Chancery Court courtrooms are located on the second story. The building houses the County Chancery Court, County Court and County Youth Court. The building is named as the William J Pete Gamble III Chancery Court Building.

County Courthouse – Purvis

Location: 205 Main Street / Mulberry Street

Built: 1905 – 1906

Style: Neo-Classical

Architect: Patrick Henry Weathers of Jackson

Contractor: M T Lewman & Company

Description: The building faces east and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Purvis. The east front has a porch with two large columns rising to a wide header. There is a balcony on the second story. There are north and south wings and a red colored metal roof. In the interior, the County Circuit Court courtroom with balcony is located at the center of the second story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial District. After a damaging storm in 1934, the building was remodeled and additions added. The architect was Vinson B Smith Jr. of Gulfport and the contractor was L E Breland and W E Breland. Further additions were completed in 1956. The architect was Landry & Matthes and the contractor was A K McInnis Jr. The building was restored in 2013. The architect was Robert Parker Adams Architects and the contractor was Witherington Construction.

See: The architect, Patrick Henry Weathers of Jackson, Mississippi, designed courthouses in Louisiana in Tensas Parish; in Mississippi in Lee County and Marion County; in Missouri in Cape Giradeau County, Daviess County and Stoddart County; and in Oklahoma in Ellis County, Logan County and Washington County.

See: The contractor M T Lewman and Company of Louisville, Kentucky.

See: The 15th Judicial District includes Jefferson Davis County, Lawrence County, Marion County and Pearl River County.

History: The county was created in 1904 and Purvis was selected as the county seat. The first and present courthouse was constructed in 1905 to 1906 and is the only courthouse constructed in Lamar County. The County Chancery Court Building was constructed in 1996 to 1998.