James Vose is a local business owner, US Army Veteran, and father. He currently serves as a Pittsboro Town Commissioner and is committed to generating a vibrant cultural community through projects like our Go See This series. Vose Natural Stone is proud to be our 2024-2025 sponsor, and we are delighted to present an exciting event at the very heart of Chatham County. We invite you to Go See This…
On Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM, locals and visitors to Pittsboro will gather at the Chatham County Courthouse and Historical Museum for a free screening of “The Courthouse”, hosted by PBS North Carolina in partnership with Haw River Films. This Emmy-nominated half-hour documentary chronicles the destruction and reconstruction of the historic courthouse as well as its rich cultural history. The event marks the 15th anniversary of the devastating fire that ravaged the courthouse in March of 2010, and will offer Chathamites a chance to reflect on their history and community within the iconic building itself.
Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker and Pittsboro local Michael C. O’Connell, “The Courthouse” delves into the history of the courthouse as well as its destruction and restoration. By chance, O’Connell was there the day the original building burned down.
“I looked up and thought, ‘Wow, that looks like smoke coming from the courthouse. I think the courthouse might be on fire. Well, I should probably pull it over and shoot some of that.’” He reflects pulling over in what used to be the old Chevy dealership and walking right up to the scene with his gear. “This was before the scene had been locked down, so I was getting these shots right behind the firemen at the southeast corner of the circle. And that’s how it all got started.”
The courthouse itself has been a landmark in Pittsboro for over a century, but its history includes both triumph and tragedy.
“I’ve always been a big William Faulkner fan,” says O’Connell. “I was really inspired by his depiction of the courthouse at the center and focus of a Southern county. It’s the place of both misery and injustice and also of accomplishment and joy. You got married at the courthouse and when you bought a house, the deed was kept there. Alternatively, it was the place people were tried for murder or held divorce proceedings. It was the hub at the center of everything.”
Alongside sharing fond stories of the building, the documentary confronts the courthouse’s painful past, including the 1921 lynching of Eugene Daniel, a Chatham County resident who was forcibly taken from the jail and murdered—a history that underscores the courthouse’s dual role as both a site of justice and injustice.
The film features archival photographs, including images captured by renowned photographer Dorothea Lange, as well as interviews with community members who share their personal stories and reflections on the building’s cultural significance. “The Courthouse” captures a deep, emotional connection the people of Pittsboro have with the building. While the fire itself stands as a symbol for the fragility of history, the filmmaker puts focus on the rebuilding process as a testament to the community’s resiliency and commitment to the future.
Following the film, a panel discussion will feature several key contributors, including Earl Ijames, an archivist at the North Carolina Museum of History; Ellen Bland, a playwright and theater director; and the film’s director and producer, Michael C. O’Connell. These experts will offer insights into the documentary’s production, the courthouse’s history, and the importance of preserving local heritage.
Whether you’re a longtime resident or new to the area, this screening provides a unique opportunity to engage with local history and hear directly from the people who helped bring this story to the screen. The event brings the story full circle—at the very place where it began.
Admission to the screening is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit the Chatham County Historical Association and ongoing preservation efforts in the community.
The Short Version
- Who: PBS NC and Haw River Films
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- What: “The Courthouse” Documentary Screening
- Where: Chatham County Courthouse and Historical Museum, 9 Hillsboro St, Pittsboro, NC
- When: March 22, 7:30 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Parking and Accessibility: Street parking and free public lots available. Sidewalk accessibility.
My father, Lemuel R Johnson, was Chatham County’s Register of Deeds in the courthouse 1949-1976. I spent many years while growing up in the courthouse. So many memories.