Courthouse Square in 1920

Germanton started out as the county seat of Stokes County, but it lost that status in 1849 when Stokes County was divided to form Forsyth County to the south. The courthouse, however, remained in the middle of the street until 1956. Here's an image from a 1920 deed recording the old courthouse square.

At the top left is the Post Office and S. W. Kurfees Residence. This is the two-story brick home that faces "sideways," so to speak; if you were passing through Germanton on Highway 8 heading north, this house is on your left. At the top right is the Bank of Stokes County, of which a few ruins remain on the right hand side of Highway 8 when you're traveling northbound. Buildings on the railroad side of the square include stores belonging to E. J. Styers, R. T. Beck, and L. M. McKenzie's property which housed stores belonging to a Poindexter and W. L. Chaffin. In the lower right corner is the Chaffin House, which was also a boarding house. The Hardin McGee House stands in the lower left corner and both the Chaffin Boarding House and the McGee House are still standing. A store belonging to R. T. Tuttle and E. J. Styers is located at the corner of the square and now-defunct Mountain Street. This building also stands and is used as a house today. The courthouse, in the center, is noted as "Old Court Houses now Store of H. McGee." 

Stokes County Deed Book 65, page 591