Our Flashback Friday feature this week is a rare postcard view of the Wake County Courthouse — rare because of the card type and rare because of the view itself.

Feb 9th 1906
A perfect day! Why do we not hear from you? G says he has a grudge against Alice!
Yours, M.D.E.
Our address here is “Oakhurst” Newbern Ave

Just a little hint of innocent gossip on a ‘perfect day!’ I have yet to figure out where ‘Oakhurst’ was, though. I suppose it was probably the familial name for one of the large, and now long gone, estates that once lined New Bern Ave.

As noted, this week’s postcard is a rare find because of its type, and what it depicts.

A Crowded Courthouse Square

A Wake County courthouse has stood on Fayetteville St. in Raleigh since the city’s founding in 1792. In 1837 a handsome, stylish, brick Greek Revival style courthouse was built to replace the earlier 18th century frame structure.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

This rare photo of Wake County’s Greek Revival courthouse dates from ca 1870.

An explosion in the population of Wake County following the Civil War prompted the Wake County commissioners to propose a new courthouse building to accommodate the increased court case load and demand for public legal services.

Thus a new courthouse and county jail were erected at the Fayetteville St. site in 1882-84.

Designed in the Second Empire style by architect John B. Halcott of Albany, NY., the new building complemented the US Post Office and Federal Court building next door.

Actually, the 1882 courthouse was an addition to the 1837 Greek Revival building, as can be seen in this week’s card. The monumental doric columns which graced the original structure were removed, and the new building was erected in front, facing Fayetteville St.  Two years ago we published a color-tinted postcard depicting the 1882 Wake County Courthouse.

But why is this week’s postcard view rare? For one, this is the only image I have seen which shows not only the 1882 building, but the original 1837 courthouse appendage, as well. Secondly, I have never seen a depiction of the 1884 county jail, which can be seen on the right edge of the view.

An Early Postcard Type — the Undivided Back

All postcards printed in the US since 1907 have been formatted in the ‘divided back’ style, meaning the spaces for the address and message are on the back of the card, allowing the front to be devoted to the image.  Previously, beginning in 1901, US postal regulations dictated the card’s entire back for the mailing address and postage. An image and space for correspondence were squeezed onto the front. Following the 1907 deregulation of the 1901 postcard standard, the undivided back style quickly lost favor with the public, and the divided back style has prevailed ever since.

Our Flashback Friday postcard this week was published by the long-time Raleigh stationer and office outfitter, Alfred Williams & Co.

“Flashback Friday” is a weekly feature of Goodnight, Raleigh! in which we showcase vintage postcards depicting our historic capital city. We hope you enjoy this week end treat!