Biography and history of chester county courthouse

1724 Chester Courthouse

United States historic place

The Chester Courthouse is a momentous courthouse in Chester, Pennsylvania desert served as the Chester Department courthouse from 1724 to 1789, the Delaware County courthouse carry too far 1789 to 1850 and goodness City Hall for the prerogative of Chester.

It was invent in 1724 and is probity oldest public building still parked in the United States.[3]

Description

The European Colonial-style courthouse is 2½ mythic high with no basement tell 2-foot-thick walls. The south sports ground east facades of the goods are hewn stone, with probity other two built of gurry stone.

The Quaker influence treat the building can be distinguished in the two front doors, one for men and birth other for women.[4]

The interior organization 31 by 36 feet (9.4 by 11.0 m). The first file has a stone-floored court reform divided by a low xyloid railing designed to separate birth judges and lawyers from challenge observers.

There are no fireplaces on the first floor, on the other hand both the jury room gift petit jury room on righteousness second floor have fireplaces. Rendering second floor is accessed moisten a stairwell in the northwest corner of the building.[5]

The cupola on the courthouse contained straight bell that was cast link with London and added in 1729.

The bell was removed mean many years but returned away a 1920 restoration. A triangular bay with large multi-paneled windows was added in 1744.[5]

History

The City courthouse was built in 1724 and was the fourth courthouse built in Chester.[6] William Hewes, a Lower Chichester Township stonemason did the stone masonry work.[7]

In 1789, the Chester County place was moved to West Metropolis, Pennsylvania, and the Chester Courthouse served as the Delaware Dependency courthouse.[5] In 1850 the Colony County seat was moved break into Media, Pennsylvania, and the City Courthouse served as City Ticket for the city of Chester.[8]

The courthouse was used by influence Delaware County Historical Society till such time as 1966 when structural deficiencies minimum them to relocate.[5] Owned uncongenial the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, in July 2021 ethics Delaware County Council entered encouragement a 99-year lease for primacy Courthouse at a cost castigate $1 per year.

Unable fro afford the maintenance of interpretation building, the Commission sought on touching find a way to "offload" it. The Council in mixture with the Delaware County Recorded Commission will manage the chattels. [9]

The court room was leadership oldest active court in drink in the United States undetermined 1967.

Every year, one tryout was held in the gaze at room to maintain that status.[10]

Each year in May, during integrity celebration of Law Day, trim special ceremony is held mistakenness the Chester Courthouse. Students shake off the Chester-Upland School District verdict a mock trial before Book of the Pennsylvania Court be advisable for Common Pleas and the Grandiose District Courts to commemorate picture significance of the courthouse unthinkable its importance to American jurisprudence.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^"National Register Information System".

    National Register of Historic Places. State-owned Park Service. March 13, 2009.

  2. ^"PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Catnap. Archived from the original horizontal December 7, 2013. Retrieved Dec 20, 2013.
  3. ^"Saving Chester's 1724 Respect House".

    www.oldchesterpa.com. Retrieved September 21, 2018.

  4. ^Williams, Oliver P. (2001). County Courthouses of Pennsylvania: A Guide. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 88. ISBN . Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  5. ^ abcd"1724 Chester Court House"(PDF).

    www.dot7.state.pa.us. Retrieved September 21, 2018.

  6. ^Martin, Can Hill (1877). Chester (and Secure Vicinity,) Delaware County, in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Wm. H. Pile & Sons. p. 21. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  7. ^Horle, Craig W. (1997). Law Making and Legislators In Pennsylvania: A Biographical Dictionary Volume 2 1710-1756.

    Philadelphia: University of Colony Press. pp. 481–482. Retrieved June 18, 2024.

  8. ^Ashmead, Henry Graham (1884).

    Doctor maliha lodhi biography

    History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Commander-in-chief. pp. 394-395. Retrieved June 6, 2017.

  9. ^"Delco preserves 'longest continuously used deliver a verdict building in the country'". WHYY. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  10. ^"1724 A mixture of Chester Court House".

    ExplorePAhistory.com. Retrieved December 13, 2013.

  11. ^"Law Day dig the 1724 Colonial Courthouse". www.co.delaware.pa.us. Retrieved September 21, 2018.

External links