USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County : from its first settlement to the present time, first under Virginia as Yohogania, Ohio, or Augusta County until 1781, and subsequently under Pennsylvania > Part 16
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
niences 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 Galt (watchmaker, well known as an ec- centric 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 Wil- liam 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 or present court-house. 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 erection of new public buildings, accord- ing 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. ; fur- nishing 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," 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 court- house should be finished.
On the 25th of September, 1840, the commissioners, Matthew Linn, Andrew Shearer, and James Pollock, Esqs., articled with
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
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 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 car- penter work.
On December 9th, 1842, the commissioners contracted with Wil- liam MeFarlane 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 erection ; 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 com- missioners very judiciously decided that he should submit a plan for a new jail with the probable cost, and another forrepairing the same.
On the 24th of August, 1866, the commissioners submitted these plans to the grand jury, who unanimously approved the erection of a new jail, 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, consist- ing of Thomas J. Bell, James Walker, and Samuel Weirich, Esqs., resolved to proceed to the erection 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., 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 pre- sent plan, and under the instructions of David S. Wilson, Esq., ap- pointed Messrs. Barr and Moser general superintendents of the work, to be allowed one per cent. of the cost of the jail as their com- pensation. Nelson Vankirk, Esq., was appointed superintendent and
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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 improve- ments 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 and C. M. Ruple, Esqs., on September 6, 1867, generally relating to county and borough affairs.
MARKET-HOUSE.
In the spring of 1795 the citizens of the town of Washington held a public meeting, at which it was unanimously resolved, that the wants of the people required a market-house, and to carry this re- solution into effect, the meeting appointed two of their prominent citizens (Alexander Addison, Esq., and Dr. Absalom Baird) to procure the necessary amount of subscriptions, and employ compe- tent workmen to erect a market-house.
On the 8th of September following, the market-house was finished and occupied, the commissioners having granted the northeast corner of the public square, on the corner of Main and Beau streets, for that purpose. It was opened under the following regulations : That public markets should be opened on Wednesday and Saturday of each week ; that they should be kept open from early dawn to 10 o'clock A. M. of the appointed days, and, by agreement of the citizens, no provision or produce of any kind was to be purchased within the prescribed hours, except at the market-house only.
The committee having discharged the duty enjoined upon them, and the market-house fulfilling the expectations of the people, yet they were compelled to issue the following notice on November 24th, 1795 :-
"We, whose names are hereunto annexed, state to all concerned in the market-house of Washington, that the expenses of building it amount, as it appears by the several bills in our hands, to $202.96
We have received for subscriptions only . 126.81
There is, therefore, due to us
·
76.15
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" We submit it to all interested in the market-house, whether they ought not immediately to pay into our hands severally, according to the ability and inclination of every individual, a further contribution to reimburse us for what we have laid out for this building, which is a common benefit to all. There are yet some arrears unpaid of the subscription, but much is not expected from them, and if all were paid, it would be proper to have a small sum in reserve for occasional repairs, which will always be wanting to a pub- lic building like this, which being as it were the property of no particular person, no one thinks it his duty to preserve it. The delinquent subscri- bers are informed that the subscription papers are lodged in the hands of William Meetkirk, Esq., who will receive payments, and unless payments are made before the 1st day of December next, he will issue process against the delinquents.
ALEXANDER ADDISON. ABSALOM BAIRD."
This notice had the desired effect, the delinquents paid their indebt- edness, and the citizens with commendable zeal paid the balance by additional subscriptions.
Immediately after the borough was incorporated, in 1810, the Council passed wholesome laws to regulate the markets. Yet the wants of the people required a larger and better market-house, con- sequently the town council, on the 23d day of October, 1813, ap- pointed a committee consisting of Parker Campbell, James Orr, and Thomas McGiffin, Esquires, to report on the expediency of erect- ing a new market-house on the same ground. This committee re- ported (on the 30th of October) favorably, and on the 6th of Nov. following, the chief burgess was directed to call a meeting of the iuhabitants on the 12th of November, to consider the subject. It appears, however, that the minds of the people were greatly agitated at this time on account of pecuniary affairs, the war and other mat- ters ; and action thereon was indefinitely postponed.
On the 16th of January, 1815, another meeting of the citizens was convened, when the usual officers were appointed and the follow- ing resolution adopted :--
"Resolved, That it is expedient to change the site of the market- house from the north to the south side of the public square, for the purpose of erecting a banking-house on the northeast corner of said square, and for the better accommodation of the citizens at large; provided, however, that no change or alteration in the present site of the market-house shall take place until the consent of the proper authority shall be first had and obtained to erect a banking-house on the northeast corner of the public square, and a market-house on the southeast corner of said square, nor until arrangements be made and a contract entered into for the building of said banking-house on that ground." Alexander Murdoch, Thomas H. Baird, and James Orr, Esquires, were appointed to procure the necessary au- thority and grant for said market-house and banking-house from the legislature and commissioners of the county.
Subsequently the Committee ascertained that the public square was to be used only for public purposes, and if diverted from that
-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
the property would revert to the original owners; accordingly the project was abandoned.
On the 21st of June, 1816, however, and at the request of the citizens, the commissioners granted to the borough permission to erect a market-house on the following plan, viz: On a range with the public offices and parallel with Main Street, to front on Main Street 53 feet and on Beau Street 130 feet, according to diagram adopted.
On November 2, 1816, the commissioners, consisting of John Reed, David Little, and Jonathan Knight, made a second grant, giving permission to the borough to erect another story upon the pillars or frame of the market-house, provided that one room should be used as a council room, and that after the expiration of twenty- five years, or at any time thereafter, the borough shall, upon receiving the sum originally expended in building the market-house, deliver the same to the commissioners for the use of the county.
On the 5th of November following, the citizens met at the court- house to consider the expediency of erecting a superstructure or story on the pillars of the market-house, and after a full discussion the burgesses and Council were instructed to erect said superstructure in the manner contemplated by the commissioners. The Council there- upon convened and appointed Parker Campbell, Alexander Murdoch, and Thomas McGiffin a committee with authority to borrow not ex- ceeding two thousand dollars, for the purpose specified, which amount they procured from the branch Bank of Philadelphia established in Washington. The contract for the building of the superstructure was given to James Ruple, Esq.
On the 20th of October, 1817, possession of the market-house rooms was given to the burgesses and Council, who rented the same on the 25th to the following persons: No. 1, Robert Estep ; No. 2, John Purviance ; Nos. 3 and 5, Thomas H. Baird ; No. 4, John Mc- Cluney; No. 6, Matthew Brown. Subsequently some of these rooms were occupied as school-rooms, and the mention of the names of Philip Potter, Stephen Wood, George Freeby, and Henry Williams will recall to the recollection of many of our inhabitants the incidents of school-life, the rod and the cat-o'-nine-tails. At one time one of the rooms was occupied by the venerable Judge Grayson, who was then editor of the Washington Examiner.
After many years it appears that the spirit of enterprise seized upon our citizens, and they awoke from their Rip Van Winkle sleep by being admonished by the commissioners of the county, in 1839, that the lease of the market-house grounds would soon expire, and that the public square would be occupied by a new court-house, suitable buildings for sheriff, &c. A meeting of the Town Council was called July 15, 1839, and Messrs. Alexander W. Acheson, Henry Langley, and John R. Griffith were appointed a committee to exa- mine the lease and to make inquiries in regard to changing the site to the south side of the public square.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
On the 2d of August, the Town Council called a meeting of the citizens, whereupon the following preamble and resolutions were adopted :---
WHEREAS, The commissioners of the county are about to erect new public buildings for the use of the county, and in the execution of their plan of erection it will be necessary to remove the borough market-house to make room for the erection of a contemplated sheriff's house, therefore
Resolved, That the burgesses and Council are hereby authorized to make such arrangements with the county commissioners for the ex- change of the present market ground for a site or location on the south side of the public square, and obtain from said commissioners a perpetual lease of the same for the use of the borough.
The Council at their meeting on November 25th, appointed Henry Langley, Esq., to meet the commissioners on the subject of the re- moval of the market-house, who subsequently reported that the commissioners would in due time make a lease. In December follow- ing, however, Messrs. A. W. Acheson, James Blaine, and Henry Langley were directed to view the ground, ascertain the probable expense of erecting a market-house, and how to dispose of the old one. The Committee, on the 8th of January, 1840, reported a plan which was adopted, and on the 6th of February, the Committee en- tered into contract with John Wilson and John W. Seamans, Es- quires, for building the same, the price being settled at nine hundred and fifty dollars. Messrs. James Blaine, John R. Griffiths, and J. H. Pattison were authorized to sell the old market-house, which they accordingly did, and made report thereof to the Council. To the burgesses and Council of 1839-40, therefore, were we indebted for the market-house which adorned the southern part of our public square, the stalls of which were first leased August 2, 1840.
The reason of the market-house being set so far back from a range with the other public buildings was owing to a lease made by the commissioners of 66 feet of ground on Main Street, and running back about 40 feet, upon which was erected three offices, the lease of which did not expire until after the market-house was erected.
TOWN HALL.
The first effort for the erection of a town hall was made May 5th, 1842, when the commissioners of that date executed a lease to the borough of Washington for all the public ground south of a line commencing at the curb-stone on Main Street, nine feet south of the new court-house, and running back until it strikes a lot of William Smith's, and now owned (1870) by Robert Boyd, Esq., on condition of their erecting a town hall.
March 23d, 1843. The Council called a meeting of the citizens to ascertain their views on the expediency of erecting a town hall, and engine-house, which, after discussion, was decided affirmatively, and the Council appointed Robert Officer, John S. Brady, and Thomas
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
McGiffin to report a plan and the probable cost. A plan was pre- pared by Mr. Erret and adopted by the Council ; but on the 6th day of May, 1843, the citizens called a public meeting and refused its sanction to the crection of a town hall.
No further efforts were made until the year 1868, when the ques- tion was again agitated, and the burgess and Council called a meet- ing of the citizens to ascertain the public sentiment on this question. Many urgent reasons were given for its erection, but that which operated upon the public mind was the generous offer of Dr. Francis J. Lemoyne, who proposed to donate ten thousand dollars for the purchase of a public library if a fire-proof vault was made for its reception in said building. The question was referred to a vote of the people, and decided affirmatively. The term of office of the bur- gess and Council elected March, 1868, was about expiring, and the plans and erection of the town hall were committed to the Council of 1869, consisting of John D. Boyle, Burgess ; J. Y. Hamilton, As- sistant Burgess ; and Alfred Creigh, J. L. Judson, A. B. Caldwell, A. C. Morrow, and James Huston, Councilmen. A plan and speci- fication, as drawn and prepared by J. Kerr, of Pittsburg, was adopt- ed. Messrs. Boyle, Crcigh, and Judson were appointed the Building Committee, and Messrs. Boyle, Caldwell, and Morrow the Finance Committee.
It is eminently due to the Council of 1868, consisting of John D. Boyle, burgess ; John McElroy, assistant burgess ; Samuel Hazlett, Robert H. Davis, William Taylor, John Templeton, and George O. Jones, to state that the citizens of the borough are indebted to them for taking the incipient measures of the erection of a town hall. On February 16th, 1869, they procured legislative action authorizing the commissioners to lease a portion of the public ground to erect thereon a town hall, to be used as a post-office and for other purposes ; and also an additional act on February 17th, 1869, authorizes the burgess and Council to borrow thirty-thousand dollars to be applied to the erection of a town hall, at seven and three-tenths per cent. per annum ; the said bonds not liable to be taxed for county, muni- cipal, or school purposes.
The contract for excavating the cellar, executing the cut-stone, stone, and brickwork, was awarded to Andrew Brady ; the oak timber to William B. Cundall; the carpenter work was given to J. Noble Porter; the manufacture of the brick to Andrew Ford ; the pressed brick to Samuel Hutson; the tinwork to Jesse Jordan ; the ventilators to Jacob Miller ; the plastering to Thomas Dagg and Jeremiah Marshall, and the painting to Col. Samuel Bulford. In connection with this subject it is proper to remark that the brick- work was sub-let by Mr. A. Brady to Messrs. James Huston and John Dye, and the cut-stonework to Edward Little.
The town hall is a substantial brick edifice of the Franco-Italian style, fronting fifty-six feet on Main Street and extending back one hundred feet, with a cellar underneath the whole building.
10
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The first floor is occupied by the post-office and vestibule, a read- ing room, a library room with a fire-proof vault in which the library is kept, an engine-house, and a market-house.
The second floor consists of the council chamber and an audience room with a gallery, capable of seating one thousand persons.
As the post-office is now permanently located in the town hall, I shall give the names of the postmasters as far back as can be asser- tained, and the year in which they entered upon the duties of their office.
1797. William Meetkirke. 1844. Jonathan D. Leet.
1801. Daniel Moore. 1848. James M'Dermot.
1805. Hugh Wylie. 1851. George W. Aiken.
1828. Joseph Henderson. 1852. David Acheson.
1829. Thomas Morgan.
1856. Freeman Brady.
1839. Samuel Workman.
1860. James M'Dermot.
1840. Robert Colmery.
1865. William C. Wylie.
On September 18, 1869, the corner-stone was laid by U. S. Grant, President of the United States, and so rapid was the work carried forward, that on April 1, 1870, the post-office room was finished and occupied. We give below the ceremonies of laying the corner stone, and matters connected therewith.
A desire being expressed on the part of many citizens that the President should be present, and deposit a box containing curiosities in the corner stone of the town hall, the following correspondence between the Burgesses and Council and President Grant took place :-
WASHINGTON, PA., September 17, 1869.
GENERAL U. S. GRANT, President of the United States :
HONORED SIR : The undersigned, the Burgesses and Councilmen of the borough of Washington, representing its citizens, would respectfully solicit you to deposit within the corner stone of the town hall, now in process of erection, on Saturday next (September 18th), a box containing the memo- rials of the present and the past, so that future generations may learn our history to the present time, when these memorials shall come to light.
The occasion is one worthy of your consideration, because this was the first county and town named after the Revolutionary struggle in honor of the illustrious Washington, who was first in peace, first in war, and first in the affections of his countrymen ; and you, honored sir, as his successor, both as President and Commander-in-Chief, will add additional interest to the many interesting reminiscences which cluster around our ancient borough by complying with our request.
With sentiments of high esteem we remain truly yours,
JOHN D. BOYLE, Chief Burgess. I. Y. HAMILTON, Ass't Burgess. ALFRED CREIGH, - Council.
A. B. CALDWELL, JAMES HUSTON, J. L. JUDSON, A. C. MORROW,
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
[REPLY.] WASHINGTON, PA., September 17, 1869.
John D. Boyle, Chief Burgess ; I. Y. Hamilton, Assistant Burgess ; Alfred Creigh, A. B. Caldwell, James Huston, J. L. Judson, A. C. Morrow, Councilmen :
GENTLEMEN : Your letter of this date, requesting me in behalf of the · citizens to deposit within the corner stone of the Town Hall now in process of erection, on Saturday, September 18th, 1869, a box containing memorials of the present, is received.
It will afford me pleasure to comply with this request-enhanced pleasure, because your county and town were named in express honor of the Father of our Country (whose name they bear), whose name is revered by every American citizen who loves his country.
With great respect, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT.
The time fixed for the ceremonies above alluded to was 23 o'clock on Saturday afternoon.
About two o'clock Burgess Boyle and Dr. Creigh, a member of Council, proceeded in a carriage to W. W. Smith's residence, to accompany the Pre- sident to the public square. Upon the arrival of the President the Wash- ington brass band, being on the ground, played a national air, after which Major Ewing announced the programme. Rev. W. A. Davidson, D. D., was then introduced, and asked the blessing of Heaven upon the undertak- ing being inaugurated, and returned thanks for the success and prosperity of the country. David S. Patterson, Esq., counsel for the Council, was then introduced, and delivered the following pertinent, terse, and eloquent remarks :-
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