When York County was created from Lancaster in 1749, five commissioners were named and charged with the task of forming the county. One of their assignments was to find land suitable for a courthouse, acquire it, and construct a building. Centre Square was the location chosen for the new building, similar to the Lancaster County courthouse, which stood in the town square.
For several years there was no courthouse, so courts functions were held in the homes of the court justices. In 1754, the commissioners entered into agreements with William Willis, John Meem, and Jacob Klein to serve as mason and carpenters for a new courthouse. Willis is notable for his work on two buildings that still stand, the Friends Meeting House on West Philadelphia Street as well as his own home on Willis Run Road.
The courthouse was constructed in the center of the Square, but not the exact center. In fact, a 1975 excavation of Continental Square revealed the original foundation, which was found to be 45’ x 45’ and located 22 ½ feet west of the precise center of the Square.
Construction on the new courthouse was completed in 1756. As evidenced by this 1754 description of York by George Stevenson, deputy surveyor of York County, brick buildings were rare: “The Town no consists of 210 Dwelling-Houses, near thirty of which are unfinished, and only three are built of bricks, and two of Stones. Of the rest, some are of Logs and some Framed, beside the Court House, of Brick, not finished, and the Prison, of Stone.”
Many residents and visitors alike believe that the Colonial Court House on West Market Street is the original. That building was constructed and opened in 1976 in celebration of the nation’s bicentennial. Planners performed extensive research to determine the appearance of the original building, and the Colonial Court House gives a good overview of the building that once stood in Centre Square. As no plans were in existence, the design team had to fill in a few gaps and also provide modern amenities during the process.
The drawing above was said to have been created by noted architect Reinhardt Dempwolf and created “from the original specifications” of the building. Some sources indicate that the prominent doorway may have been added in 1793; if so, the original appearance of the main entrance is unknown.