Old Market, Market hall in Louisville, Georgia, United States.
The Old Market is a four-sided open-air shed, 24 feet on each side, with a pyramid-shaped roof topped by a steeple containing a bell. Four heavy wooden timbers support each side; these are now badly rotted and have been reinforced with iron. A new roof and cement floor were added in the 1950s. It stands on a mall in Broad Street at Mulberry Street, surrounded by a low brick wall and shrubbery.
The building rose between 1795 and 1798 while Louisville served as Georgia's capital. It earned National Register of Historic Places recognition in 1978, securing its place in regional history.
Locals have long called the structure the "Slave Market" because it was known to be used for selling enslaved people, though a few uncited sources dispute this. It was built as a market house for official sales of property and furniture. A 2020 petition with 4,000 signatures, in a town of about 2,500, demanded its removal.
The open-air shed stands midway on a mall in the middle of Broad Street at its intersection with Mulberry Street, surrounded by a low brick wall and shrubbery of recent origin. The structure has no interior to enter; it is viewed from the street and the mall. The city council voted in August 2020 to remove it, so check locally whether it still stands before travelling.
In 2020, the Louisville city council voted four to one for removal after a petition gathered over 4,000 signatures. This vote reflects ongoing debates about the building's future and its place in the modern city.
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