Editing Norfolk County, Massachusetts (section)

===Courthouses===
After the creation of the county, the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of General Sessions of the Peace first met in [[First Church and Parish in Dedham#1762 meetinghouse|Dedham's meetinghouse]].{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}} [[Nathaniel Ames (third)|Nathaniel Ames]] was chosen as the clerk of both and they met for the first time on September 23.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}}{{efn|Hanson is not clear in which year they first met.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}}}}

When the court met on January 7, 1794, it was so cold in the building, which lacked any sort of heating, that they moved to the [[Woodward Tavern]] across the street.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}} The [[History of Dedham, Massachusetts, 1700-1799#Anglican Church|Anglican Church]] in town had also offered their building, but it was in such a state of disrepair that the offer was not accepted.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}} The [[First Church and Parish in Dedham]] then offered a piece of land on their Little Common, and a new courthouse was ordered to be constructed.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}} Construction was sluggish, however, and the delays frustrated Ames.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}}

The court was still sitting in the meetinghouse in 1794 but the new courthouse was completed in 1795.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166-167}}{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}} It was found to be too small, however, and the ceilings were so low as to stifle people in the courtrooms.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=167}} [[Charles Bulfinch]] was hired in 1795 to design a turret for the building and [[Paul Revere]] was commissioned to cast a bell.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=167}}{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=239}}{{efn|The bell was moved to the new courthouse, and the last record of the cupola was in 1817. It disappeared sometime after that.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=239}}}}

When it became apparent that the Courthouse was out of date, the County Commissioners ordered a new one to be built.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} They originally were seeking a utilitarian building that would be fireproof and safe to store important documents.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} Local boosters, however, wanted a building that aligned with the town's rapidly improving self-image.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=228-229}}

The land for the courthouse, across the street from the existing one, was purchased from [[Fisher Ames|Frances Ames]] for $1,200.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}}{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}} Ames later refused to sell the lot to the east at an asking price of $400, however.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} Masonic ceremonies, bell ringing and cannon fire accompanied the laying of the cornerstone on July 4, 1825.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} In 1827, the old courthouse was sold at public auction.{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}} 

The new building was designed by [[Solomon Willard]]{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}}<ref name=NHL/> and was dedicated on February 20, 1827.{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}}{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} It was a basic rectangular granite-walled structure, 48' by 98' and two stories tall,{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}} with Greek-temple porticoes at either end.<ref name=NHL/>{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} Each 10' portico was supported by four Doric pillars.{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}} A bell made by [[Paul Revere]] was moved from the old courthouse to the new north portico, where it was tolled to announce court sessions.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=239}}{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=15}}

The interior had a hall running through the center paved with brick.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=6}} On the eastern side were the offices of the Country Treasurer and the Clerk of Courts.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=14}} On the western side were the Registry of Deeds and Probate Court.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=14}} The courtroom was upstairs and featured an arched ceiling.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=14}} The high sheriff had a desk in the room.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=14}}

From the outside it was an attractive building, but it was not a comfortable place to work.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} The only water was provided by a well on Court Street, and it did not have an adequate heating system.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} One employee complained that it was "barren and destitute of every convenience, demanded for health, comfort and decency."{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} In 1846, an iron fence was installed around the perimeter.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=15}}