Commissioners today reached a consensus on a new Halifax County seal that pays tribute to the 250th anniversary of the Halifax Resolves as well as the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

It will replace a longstanding seal that Deputy County Manager Christina Wells said is often confusing.

The board also gave the go-ahead to pursue a new logo, for which input on its design will be sought from the public, schools, and the community college.

The seal that commissioners selected features a quill pen in an inkwell with the words “Birthplace of American Independence” above it and “April 12, 1776,” below the quill as a tribute to the signing of the Resolves. 

Wells noted in a memo to the board that a county seal is the official insignia of a county government, used for the authentication of documents and representing the county's authority.

She said designs should be unique with symbols that reflect the county's history and heritage. “Halifax County's seal is outdated and, more importantly, inaccurate,” Wells said.

During the meeting, Wells told the board that the current seal features the Burgess Law Office and the word “Constitution” above the house. Legend says that the first state constitution was drafted at the house, but that has never been verified, and the state constitution was not drafted on April 12, 1776.

The current seal

“We were not a country yet, so it’s a bit confusing for the public and it’s really a bit confusing — even for the citizens of Halifax County who might not be aware of the home that’s depicted or the reason the word ‘Constitution’ is there.” The Resolves were not signed at the house, she added.

Wells told the board that this year — with the nation’s and the Resolves’ semiquincentennial — “it’s a great time to make this change, both in the honor of that event and, going forward, just to be clear about our history.”

As far as the “Birthplace of American Independence” line, she said, “We feel comfortable in saying we can lay claim to that because the foundational document prior to the Declaration of Independence was the Halifax Resolves. In fact, many people who were here to approve the Resolves went on to be present for the Declaration of Independence.”

Wells also asked the board to consider coming up with a new logo to serve as a branding tool. “The creation of the logo would be a great time to receive public input on the design in order to craft a new logo and develop a fresh look for Halifax County's website, social media, and other materials.”