06/07/2026
WASHINGTON COUNTY COURT-HOUSE. On the 18th of October, 1781, David Hoge, of Cumberland County, conveyed to James Edgar, Hugh Scott, Van Swearingen, Daniel Leet, and John Armstrong, a piece of land in the town of "Bassett" for the use of the inhabitants of Washington County, to erect thereon a court-house, prison, &c., for and in consideration of the good-will he beareth to the inhabitants, and also the sum of five shillings. The ground conveyed is thus described: Situate in Bassettown, fronting and extending along Monongahela (Main) Street, 240 feet, and in the same manner along Ohio (Beau) Street, 240 feet; thence with the lot marked in the original plan, 123 (now owned by Robert Boyd, Esq.); thence with Johnston's (Cherry) Alley 240 feet to the Monongahela Street aforesaid. The witnesses to the deed were Henry Taylor and David Reddick, which was recorded in the Recorder's office February 7, 1785.
The organic law of the county, dated March 28, 1781, section 9, directed the courts to be held at the house of David Hoge, Esq., until a court-house shall be built or otherwise provided for. The courts were held at the designated place until 1783. The courts were afterwards held at the house of Charles Dodd in 1783, at the house of James Wilson in 1784, and John Dodd's from 1785 to 1787, each of these persons receiving a stipulated rent. The house of Charles Dodd was upon the lot now owned by James G. Strean, Esq., but afterwards John Dodd bought the same property. The house rented from James Wilson was on the lot where Mr. William H. Drury resides. The courts were held there but one year, and returned to Mr. Dodd's. The gaol occupied the first floor and the court the second.
In 1783 the commissioners began the er****on of a log court- house after other public buildings, which were not completed until July, 1787. In 1784 a tax of £500 was laid for the purpose of building a court-house, and in 1788 an additional sum of £150 to pay the balance on the same, the whole amounting to £650. This log court-house, the first which was erected (FIRST PICTURE), was occupied until the winter of 1790-91, when it was destroyed by fire. Rev. Thaddeus Dodd taught a classical school in this court-house, and afterwards kept by David Johnston. It was during the time Mr. Johnston kept school therein that it was burned. He afterwards took charge of the Canonsburg Academy. The commissioners, on the 1st of January, 1792, laid a tax of £1500 to erect a brick court-house and other public buildings.
The second court-house (no picture exists) was erected of brick, being commenced in 1792, in the centre of the public square. This court-house was improved in 1819 by an addition thereto, the commissioners having awarded the contract to Thomas II. Baird, Esq., who gave as his securities David Shields (SECOND PICTURE) and George Baird (THIRD PICTURE), Esqs. October 18, 1836, a county meeting was held in the courthouse to take action with regard to the er****on of a court-house and other public buildings, which meeting, after a full discussion, resolved that the question should be determined by a vote of the electors of the county, who decided against its er****on. But on March 9, 1839, the grand jury considered the er****on of a new court-house, and the question was laid over to the next grand jury, who indorsed the proposition. The commissioners then certified that a new court-house would cost $12,000, and the repairs, $5000, and the subsequent grand jury sanctioned its er****on, as the public buildings were unfit for public purposes; and the whole of the public square should be entirely changed, and present an appearance which would be alike creditable to the county and have all the conveniences which the wants of the people required. Before, however, giving a description of the improvements which were made, it will be interesting to many unacquainted with the buildings which were upon the public square to state what buildings occupied it.
Commencing on the corner of Main and Beau streets, and going south, was the market-house, with a superstructure containing six rooms (a full description of which will be found under the title of "Market House"); next to and adjoining the market-house was the engine-house ; then an alley, which led directly into the kitchen of the sheriff's house, through which access was had to the jail ; next was the sheriff's office and house attached, and the prothonotary's office ; then came the court-house. On the south of the court-house were the clerk of the court's and register's offices; adjoining which was a small shop of Alfred Gait (watchmaker, well known as an eccentric genius) and three offices, from which a rent was derived — these filled up the square. These three offices on the southeastern corner of the public square, and immediately in front of the present market-house, were leased, on a ground-rent of twenty years, on the 1st of June, 1817. Each office was required to be in size 22 by 24 feet (with an alley 10 feet in the rear), to be built of brick, and range with the other public buildings. No. 1, next to the court-house, was leased to William Hunter, Esq., at $3.01 per foot per annum. No. 2 was leased to John Neal, Esq., and No. 3, on the corner of the street and alley, to David Shields, Esq., each at $2.54 per foot.
We now resume the history of the third court-house (FOURTH PICTURE). On the 22d July, 1839, Jehu Jackson, Matthew Linn, and Andrew Shearer advertised to receive sealed proposals until July 15, 1839, at 10 o'clock A.M., for the er****on of new public buildings, according to the plan adopted, for the accommodation of the courts and offices of the county, and for the safe keeping of the records; and a house for the sheriff. On the 16th July, 1839, the carpenter work was awarded to Henry Shearer, Esq.; the stonework, to Freeman Brady, Esq.; the cut-stonework, to Alexander Ramsey, Esq.; furnishing and laying the brickwork, to David White, Esq.
On the 25th of September the commissioners caused all the old buildings to be removed from the public square, except the offices on the southeast corner of the square, whose leases had expired, in which the public offices should be temporarily kept. In addition to these two rooms the commissioners also rented the corner room of the "Round Corner," (FIFTH PICTURE) now occupied by James C. Acheson. They also leased the Methodist Protestant church from James L. Porter and Charles E. Jones (trustees), from the 29th of August, 1839, to the 29th August, 1843, for the sum of $200, in which the courts should be held, with the privilege of leaving the same when the new courthouse should be finished.
On the 25th of September, 1840, the commissioners, Matthew Linn, Andrew Shearer, and James Po***ck, Esqs., articled with Freeman Brady and David White, Esqs., to build the jail walls, and, with David Hall and William Wylie, to plaster the court-house. 1842, May 27. The statue of Washington (SIXTH PICTURE – first was terra cotta) (PICTURE - placing of later statue) was ordered to be placed upon the dome of the court-house, and, on the 15th of October, James Sterret, of Allegheny County, James Chambers and William E. Erret, of Washington County, were selected to measure the carpenter work.
On December 9th, 1842, the commissioners contracted with William McFarlane and William E. Erret to build a portico to the sheriff's house, for which they were to receive one hundred and seventy-five dollars. The cost of the court-house of 1839 was twenty-nine thousand eight hundred and eight dollars, to which is to be added the sheriff's house, costing four thousand five hundred and sixty-eight dollars, amounting in all to $34,376.
We shall now advert to the improvements made on the public square in 1867-8 and 9. Neither the court-house nor jail answered the purposes of their er****on; the former required an arbitration room, library room, and sheriff’s office, and jury room, and the latter an entire new building. The commissioners, consisting of Messrs. Jos. W. Cowan, Thos. J. Bell, and Jas. Walker, on the 23d of July, 1866, authorized J. W. Barr, Esq., a superior architect of Pittsburg, to inspect the county jail, with a view of repairing or rebuilding the same. The jail undergoing a thorough inspection by Mr. Barr, he gave it as his opinion that it was unfit for use, upon which the commissioners very judiciously decided that he should submit a plan for a new jail with the probable cost, and another for repairing the same foreman under Messrs. Barr and Moser, his compensation being $5 per day; Samuel Hargraves, superintendent of the brick and mason work, at $5 per day. The general superintendents were authorized to select all the materials, and Messrs. Vankirk and Hargraves, in their respective departments, were to employ and superintend all the hands necessary for its completion, but subject to the inspection and condemnation of the commissioners and general superintendents. On the 23d of April, 1867, the contract for the brick was awarded to Chas. V. Grier and Joshua R. Forest, with John Hallam as security. The new prison and extension to the court-house, including sheriff's office, arbitration room, library room, &c., cost forty-eight thousand five hundred dollars.
The stone wall inclosing public square, grading, and improvements to sheriff's house, cost thirty-five hundred dollars, amounting in the aggregate to fifty-two thousand dollars. Before the jail was finished, and in the northeast corner, about ten feet from the ground, a box, containing much valuable information, was deposited in the wall by A. T. Baird (SEVENTH PICTURE) and C. M. Ruple (EIGHTH PICTURE), Esqs., on September 6, 1861, generally relating to county and borough affairs.
On the 24th of August, 1866, the commissioners submitted these plans to the grand jury, who unanimously approved the er****on of a new jail (NINTH PICTURE), and the plan thereof was submitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, who approved of the same. It being too late in the season to commence so large a building, it was postponed until February 28, 1867, when the new Board of Commissioners, consisting of Thomas J. Bell, James Walker, and Samuel Weirich, Esqs., resolved to proceed to the er****on of the jail under the approval of the grand jury and the direction of the court.
On March 5th, 1867, the commissioners, accompanied by David S. Wilson, Esq. (TENTH PICTURE), their attorney (who was desirous of submitting certain other improvements in connection with the court-house, by which all the necessary rooms could be obtained, and the jail connected with the court-room), went to Pittsburg, to confer with Messrs. Barr and Moser in regard to the plans and specifications and estimates of the new county prison, and the improvements therewith connected. March 22d, 1867, the commissioners, after having adopted the present plan, and under the instructions of David S. Wilson, Esq., appointed Messrs. Barr and Moser general superintendents of the work, to be allowed one per cent, of the cost of the jail as their compensation. Nelson Vankirk, Esq, was appointed superintendent and foreman under Messrs. Barr and Moser, his compensation being $5 per day; Samuel Hargraves, superintendent of the brick and mason work, at $5 per day. The general superintendents were authorized to select all the materials, and Messrs. Vankirk and Hargraves, in their respective departments, were to employ and superintend all the hands necessary for its completion, but subject to the inspection and condemnation of the commissioners and general superintendents.
From History of Washington County, Pennsylvania by alfred Creigh
