The Courtland Post Office is in an old brick building that has seen a better day. Some of the…read morelettering was askew and worn, which is an easy fix so I wish they would take more pride in the exterior. The inside was clean, well stocked and ready for business, however. I loved the vintage brass mail boxes, the wood paneling and the iron bars on the cashier window. The town of Courtland was previously named Southampton Courthouse and Jerusalem. Former postmistress Fannie Barrett is credited with suggesting the town's name to be changed to Courtland. Courtland has a rich history dating back to 1750, and is known for the trial of Nat Turner in 1831. The hours are M-F 8:30-4:30, Saturday 10-12:00, and the window closes for lunch from 1:30-2:30. John Ricks is listed as the postmaster at this branch which serves about 4,300 residents.

Yes, *that* Walter Reed. This marker points out that a famous physician lived here and also married…read morea woman from here in Murfreesboro. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Head of U.S. Yellow Fever Commission in Cuba, 1900-01. Lived here as a young man and married Emily Lawrence of this town." Walter Reed, born in Virginia in 1851, spent part of his early life in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, where his father served as a Methodist pastor. Reed entered the University of Virginia at just fifteen and graduated from its medical school at seventeen, later earning a second degree from Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York. After working in public health in Brooklyn, he joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1875, eventually rising to prominence as a pioneering bacteriologist. During the Spanish-American War, Reed led the fourth U.S. Army Yellow Fever Commission in Cuba, where he conducted groundbreaking experiments that proved mosquitoes transmitted yellow fever. His work was notable not only for its scientific impact but also for introducing informed consent in human experimentation. Reed's findings revolutionized public health and disease control in tropical regions. He died in 1902 from complications of appendicitis and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His legacy lives on through the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Museum of Health and Medicine, institutions that honor his contributions to medicine and public health. [Review 925 of 2025 - 4329 in North Carolina - 24481 overall]

Gates County was formed in 1779 and is named for Revolutionary War General Horatio Gates. The…read morehistoric 1836 courthouse across the street is now a library. This is the new and modern courthouse that serves Gates County. It is a one-story light red colored brick structure, and it was completed in 1976. The design embraces a Modernist style that prioritizes function and simplicity over ornamentation. The courthouse houses both the County Superior Court and the County District Court of North Carolina's 1st Judicial District, with the main courtroom located on the southern end of the building. There is a parking lot in front and street parking nearby. Gatesville is not a big city and I had no trouble accessing and viewing the interior, though cellphones (and pictures) are not permitted. [Review 919 of 2025 - 4323 in North Carolina - 24475 overall]

Northampton County was established in 1741 from part of Bertie County, it was named in honor of…read moreJames Compton, the 5th Earl of Northampton. The county seat, originally called Northampton Courthouse, was renamed Jackson in 1823 to honor Andrew Jackson, then a national hero and soon-to-be president. Before European settlement, the region was home to the Tuscarora and Meherrin tribes. As settlers arrived--primarily English, Scotch-Irish, Scottish, and French Huguenots--many Native Americans were displaced. The Roanoke River, which winds through the county, served as a vital trade route and attracted immigrants with its fertile soil. The historic courthouse was completed in 1858 and is a classic example of the Green Revival design. Its temple-form design faces south and features a commanding prostyle tetrastyle portico supported by fluted Ionic columns. These columns, resting on substantial pedestals that rise from the high foundation, lend the building a monumental presence. The current modern courthouse was completed between 2022 and 2024 and stands a short distance from the historic 1858 Greek Revival Courthouse. They share the address. It is a modern two-story building composed of red brick, glass, and concrete, with a flat roofline and clean, geometric lines. Inside, the courthouse houses both the County Superior Court and County District Court for the 6th Judicial District, which includes neighboring Bertie, Halifax, and Hertford counties. [Review 926 of 2025 - 4330 in North Carolina - 24482 overall]