Aiken County Traffic Court Moves Into Historic Building

After almost 20 years sitting unused, the Charles E. Simons Jr. Federal Court House is now home to Aiken County's traffic court, moving from Hampton Avenue to 223 Park Ave. S.W. on June 6, 2025.

Chief Magistrate Yvonne Rushton cut the ribbon at the start. "It's absolutely beautiful. The old facility we had on Hampton Avenue wasn't nearly this nice. And there is so much more space. We are so excited to be part of this wonderful building," she told the Aiken Standard.

In April 2024, the county took charge of this Georgian Revival masterpiece from federal hands. Built in 1935, it stands proud on the National Register of Historic Places.

Inside, a striking 1938 mural catches the eye. Stefan Hirsch's Justice as Protector & Avenger still belongs to federal authorities, though the walls around it changed ownership.

The Historic Aiken Foundation played a key role in the switch. Foundation President Linda Johnson explained: "We were called in, first of all, to identify all the historic features inside and out, and you would be amazed at the long list."

Court sessions now run three days each week on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

The Veterans Affairs Office almost claimed this space, but layout issues, privacy concerns, and lack of parking were concerns.

County Administrator Brian Sanders explained the limits: "One of the stipulations was that we could not make a lot of changes, including putting up walls or anything permanent." These rules blocked the needed privacy upgrades.