Franklin County Courthouse (Pennsylvania) facts for kids
The Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, is an important building with a long history. The current building was finished in 1865. It's actually the third courthouse built on the same spot! The land for the courthouse was bought way back in 1785 from Colonel Benjamin Chambers.
Quick facts for kids |
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Franklin County Courthouse
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Courthouse, on Memorial Square in Chambersburg
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 Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | 1 North Main Street, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1865 |
| Architect | S. Hutton Samuel Seibert |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001784 |
| Added to NRHP | January 18, 1974 |
Contents
A Courthouse with a Fiery Past
The courthouse you see today replaced an older one that was burned down. This happened on July 30, 1864, during the American Civil War. Soldiers from the Confederate States Army set it on fire.
Why Was the Courthouse Burned?
The attack was led by Brigadier General John McCausland. He was following orders from General Jubal Early. General Early commanded an area called the Shenandoah Valley. This region had seen a lot of damage from the Union Army. Early wanted to get back at the North for this destruction.
He believed Chambersburg deserved to be punished. One reason was that the town had supported John Brown. Brown was an abolitionist who tried to start a slave rebellion. He planned his famous raid on Harpers Ferry while getting help from people in Chambersburg.
A Town's Choice: Pay or Burn
Before burning the town, General McCausland gave the people of Chambersburg a choice. They could pay a ransom of $100,000 in gold. Or, they could pay $500,000 in greenbacks (paper money). The townspeople did not pay the ransom. So, McCausland went ahead with destroying the town. The second courthouse was part of this destruction. After the fire, only its strong walls and pillars were left standing.
Building the Current Courthouse
The current courthouse was built using the parts that survived the fire. It was designed in a style called Greek Revival architecture. This style looks like ancient Greek temples. S. Hutton was the architect who designed it. Samuel Seibert oversaw the construction.
Design and Features
They built the new structure around the remaining walls and columns. The courthouse is two and a half stories tall. It is made of brick. There are many windows, with twenty-two on each side. Five windows are on the front and five on the back.
A cool feature is the domed clock cupola on top. It has a statue of Benjamin Franklin on it. You can also see six chimneys on the roof. The courthouse was made even bigger in 1902. The new parts matched the original Greek Revival style.
A Historic Landmark
The Franklin County Courthouse is a very important building. It is part of the Chambersburg Historic District. This district includes many historic places in the town. Chambersburg is known as the largest Northern community that was burned during the Civil War.
The courthouse was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it is recognized as a special place in American history.
