Allegany County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allegany County Courthouse |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Location | Maryland |
| Town or city | Cumberland |
| Country | Allegany County |
| Coordinates | 39°39′03″N 78°46′01″W / 39.6508°N 78.7669°W |
| Construction started | 1893 |
| Cost | $97,000 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Wright Butler |
The Allegany County Courthouse is an important building in Cumberland, Maryland. It is where the main court for Allegany County handles legal cases. This court is called the Circuit court.
You can find the courthouse in Cumberland's Washington Street Historic District. Many church towers stand tall in Cumberland, but the courthouse really stands out. It sits on Washington Street, a road that goes up sharply from Wills Creek. This creek runs right through the middle of Cumberland. Courthouses have always been some of the most impressive buildings in American towns. Their grand design helps show the power of the local government. It also helps people respect and recognize the law.
History of the Courthouse
In 1789, the Allegany County Court was officially started. This happened when the Maryland General Assembly made a new law. They divided Washington County to create Allegany County. The name "Allegany" comes from an old Native American word. It means "beautiful stream."
Local stories say that the first court meetings in Allegany County were held in someone's home. This was John Graham's house. Later, court business moved to a local tavern owned by Abraham Faw. These were only temporary places. The county needed a proper building for its court.
The First Courthouse
In 1793, the government allowed the building of the county's first courthouse and jail. But it took a while to finish. The courthouse was finally ready to be used in 1799. This first building cost about $3,062.50 to build.
Later, in 1806, some improvements were made. They added special rooms to keep important records safe. These rooms were for the Clerk of Court and the Registrar of Wills. These additions cost about $1,200.
The Second Courthouse
By 1834, the first courthouse was too small. Allegany County was growing, and more people needed the court. So, a new courthouse was approved. It was planned to cost $5,000. This new building was finished in 1841.
About 30 years later, in the 1860s, more money was spent on the courthouse. The county decided to make the existing courthouse bigger and update it. They also planned to build a new jail. The improved courthouse was used for the next 30 years. But then, on January 5, 1893, a fire destroyed it. Only the strong vaults where the Clerk of Court and Registrar of Wills kept records were saved. After the fire, the court moved to the City Hall and Academy of Music building for a short time.
The Third Courthouse
The courthouse you see today was designed in 1893. It was the first big project for a local architect named Wright Butler. Butler designed the building in a style called Richardsonian Romanesque. This style was popular in the late 1800s. It was inspired by the work of a famous architect named Henry Hobson Richardson.
The courthouse shows many features of this style. It uses brick with stone details. The outside walls look like rough, natural rock. The windows are set deep into the walls, and the main entrance has a large arch. These are all typical Richardsonian features. One special part of this courthouse is its tall tower. It has round columns supporting it and rises above the three-story building. The whole building cost $97,000 to build. The Allegany County Courthouse looks a lot like another famous building. This is the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
