Verona, Virginia — Augusta County marked a significant milestone in the construction of its new courthouse on Monday, March 23, 2026, with a cornerstone laying ceremony held at 11:30 a.m. in Verona.

State representatives, the Augusta County Board of Supervisors, officials and staff from the courts system, administrative staff along with representatives from the design and construction teams gathered to celebrate this ceremonial and traditional building milestone.   

Historically, the cornerstone ceremony celebrated the placement of the first stone in a building’s foundation, a critical stone that guided the alignment of the complete structure. Today’s ceremony instead served as a symbolic recognition of the foundational principles of the judicial and governmental systems: fairness, integrity, service, and justice. 

In remarks commemorating the milestone, County Administrator Timothy K. Fitzgerald said, “Together, we reinforce our foundation for a safe, strong, and resilient Augusta County and do so with a sense of purpose and hope—for the work that will take place here, and for the future it will help shape.”

In keeping with tradition, a time capsule will be placed in a specially designed compartment close to the cornerstone. Staff for departments and the court systems helped to prepare items for the capsule, which includes items that document the story of the courthouse project and capture a snapshot of Augusta County today.  Items include photographs from key milestones, original plans, historical context, departmental contributions, newspapers, and maps. A list of the time capsule items is below. 

During the ceremony, a cornerstone with the inscription “Est 2026” was set into place and County Administrator Fitzgerald and Assistant County Administrator, Candy Hensley, applied mortar to seal the stone. Hensley serves as the lead staff project manager for the Verona courthouse construction project and spent more than 15 years working on the renovations, expansions, and project proposals for the historic 1901 Courthouse in downtown Staunton.  

More about the courthouse project, including a live construction webcam, is available at www.AugustaCountyVA.gov/courthouse.  

Time Capsule Contents

Electronic on Thumb Drive

1. Architectural and Engineering Contract
2. Various Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes
3. Construction (March 15, 2024 through May 1, 2026) – Documents and Pictures
4. Courthouse Financing Documents
5. Ground Breaking Ceremony (March 15, 2024) – Documents and Pictures
6. Topping Out Ceremony (April 15, 2025) – Documents and Pictures
7. Virginia Supreme Court Order and Referendum Documents
8. Can Construction of the Courthouse Photo – Government Center employee competition to benefit the Verona Food Pantry
9. Time Lapse Video as of March 11, 2026
10. Photo of Board of Supervisors, 2024 and 2026
11. Photo of County Administration Team
12. Letter from Candy Hensley, Project Manager
13. Current Events and Local Costs

Physical Items in Capsule

1. Construction Contract
2. Architectural Firm Contract
3. Construction Progress Reports
4. Virginia Supreme Court Order
5. Branded shirt from Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Services Unit
6. Patches, Pictures and Letter from Sheriff Donald Smith and Major John Craft
7. Challenge Coins from County Administrator, Timothy Fitzgerald; Sheriff, Donald Smith; Fire-Rescue Chief, Greg Schacht; and Augusta County Fire-Rescue
8. Challenge Coin Commemorating United States of America’s 250^th Anniversary, July 4, 2026 
9. Documents and Challenge Coin from Steven Landes, Circuit Court Clerk
10. Documents and Pictures from the Ground Breaking Ceremony
11. Documents and Pictures from the Topping Out Ceremony
12. Yard Signs from 2016 and 2022 Referendum for and Against Moving the County Seat
13. Floor plan of the Augusta County Courthouse Established in 2026
14. Business Cards from Stakeholders, Contractor, Skanska and Moseley Architect
15. Letter from Candy Hensley, Assistant County Administrator and Courthouse Project Manager
16. Picture of Augusta County’s Construction Team
17. Presentation Documents – Includes Courthouse History and Process for the New Courthouse
18. 2026 Map of Augusta County
19. American money, United States Mint - pennies, which ceased being produced as of November 12, 2025.
20. Augusta County Lapel Pin
21. Economic Development 2024 Annual Report
22. Augusta County Comprehensive Plan 2025-2045
23. Augusta County 2023 Facts and Figures
24. Augusta County 2024 Financial Audit Report