By Matt de Simone
A crowd of county officials, construction workers, architects, engineers, and residents gathered Friday afternoon to witness a symbolic milestone in the construction of the new Botetourt County Courthouse as a crane carefully lifted the building’s cupola into place, marking the highest point of the project.
The “topping off” ceremony celebrated more than the placement of the structure’s crown. Speakers described the moment as the latest chapter in more than 250 years of Botetourt County history and a visible sign that construction remains on schedule toward a planned fall 2027 completion.
The ceremony featured remarks from County Administrator Gary Larrowe, Capital Projects Manager Rich Evans, Jamerson-Lewis Construction Senior Project Manager Jim Benn and representatives involved in the project before W.O. Crane Company hoisted the cupola onto the courthouse roof.
“I was pleased to see such a large crowd,” Fincastle Mayor Mary Bess Smith said when asked about Friday’s ceremony. “Special thanks go to Historic Fincastle Inc. for providing ice cream to attendees.”
The event opened with an invocation asking for the continued safety of everyone working on the project and that the courthouse serve as “a sanctuary of truth, justice and equality.”
Larrowe said topping off ceremonies have long represented an important construction tradition while providing an opportunity to reflect on the courthouse’s significance to generations of county residents.
“Today’s topping off ceremony symbolizes progress in the construction process,” Larrowe said. “But it also gives us an opportunity to reflect on something much larger than steel, concrete and masonry. Today we are building the next chapter in a story that began more than 250 years ago.”
He noted that Botetourt County’s first courthouse was a log structure erected during the 1770s before Thomas Jefferson later supplied plans for a new courthouse that influenced the architecture of subsequent buildings.
“When completed, this facility will provide modern courtrooms, secure space for judicial operations, improved access for citizens, and protect some of the most important historical records in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Larrowe said.
He also recognized the Board of Supervisors, judges, constitutional officers, courthouse staff, county employees, and the many contractors whose work has brought the project to its current stage.
Larrowe singled out Capital Projects Manager Rich Evans for helping guide the project during a challenging period.
“Projects of this size and complexity don’t happen by accident,” he said. “They require someone who can navigate the challenges while keeping the project on budget and moving forward.”
The county administrator also shared construction statistics highlighting the scope of the project. According to county officials, more than 14,000 cubic yards of rock have been removed, 200 tons of structural steel and 93 tons of reinforcing steel have been installed, 142 cubic yards of concrete have been poured and approximately 30,000 concrete masonry units have been laid. More than 77,000 labor hours have been logged so far. The cupola stands 86 feet, 7½ inches above the basement floor and reaches an elevation of approximately 1,330 feet above sea level.
Evans walked attendees through the courthouse’s development timeline, explaining that planning began with a courthouse study in 2020 before design work started in 2022 and construction officially began earlier this year.
“This project has taken years of planning, design, coordination and hard work by a dedicated team of professionals,” Evans said.
He credited county leaders, architects, contractors and courthouse employees for working together throughout the lengthy process.
“It has truly been a team effort,” Evans said. “Construction is a team sport, and the success we celebrate today is the result of the professionalism, craftsmanship and dedication of everyone involved.”
While placing the cupola represents a major milestone, Evans noted that substantial work remains, including completing the roof, enclosing the building, installing building systems, and finishing the interior over the coming months.
Jamerson-Lewis Construction Senior Project Manager Jim Benn thanked Botetourt County for selecting the company to build what he described as one of the county’s most important public buildings.
“For generations, the courthouse has been more than a place where justice is administered,” Benn said. “It has been the center of civic life.”
He recognized the company’s field leadership team, project engineers, and subcontractors who have worked through difficult weather conditions and extensive rock excavation since construction began.
Benn said the project represents a partnership among the county, designers, and builders.
“Great buildings are never the product of a single organization,” he said. “They are the result of a true partnership between owner, designer and builder.”
He noted that Jamerson-Lewis mobilized on the site in January 2025 and that the former courthouse, built after the devastating 1970 fire, was demolished in May before construction of the new facility accelerated.
Referencing Thomas Jefferson’s influence on one of Botetourt County’s earliest courthouses, Benn said the new building is intended to serve future generations just as its predecessors did.
“Today we raise the cupola, but more importantly, we celebrate the raising of a courthouse that will serve the people of Botetourt County long after the construction equipment has left,” Benn said. “This courthouse will continue to stand as a symbol of justice, service and community.”
Following the remarks, attendees watched as workers carefully guided the cupola into place atop the courthouse while onlookers applauded the successful installation.
“The Town of Fincastle is proud to see the new Circuit Courthouse taking shape,” Mayor Smith said. “At the same time, we know that building the future comes with temporary growing pains, so we also want to extend a sincere thank you to our residents, business owners, and local workforce. We truly appreciate everyone’s patience and flexibility as we all navigate the daily challenges of construction– including traffic shifts, parking changes, and noise. Managing a project of this scale within our historic footprint requires patience from everyone, and we truly appreciate the efforts of the county staff and Jamerson-Lewis Construction to minimalize disruptions to those who live and work in town.”
According to project information distributed during the ceremony, the new courthouse is expected to be substantially complete in the fall of 2027. The replacement facility is being constructed on the site of the county’s previous courthouse and is designed to provide modern judicial facilities while honoring the architectural character of the historic 1848 courthouse that once stood in downtown Fincastle.
