City Directories and History: The Lancaster County Courthouse, of probable Robert Mills design and displaying superb craftsmanship, has been in constant use as a courthouse since its ca. 1828 completion. The contractor was Willis W. Alsobrook. This two-story handmade brick building of English bond features Flemish bond framing the windows. A Venetian window is behind the judge’s seat, and chimney placement, doors, and windows set within recessed arches are in the English Palladian manner. The entablature with cornice modillions, the portico
pediment and the stucco over brick modified Tuscan columns are of the Roman Revival, or Classical Revival, tradition. Other features include the double flight of steps with arched opening below, iron handrails and banisters, and semi-circular and semi-elliptical fanlights. The first floor walls are solid brick 24 inches thick, the second floor walls are 18 inches thick. A series of double barrel brick vaults supports the second floor and forms the ceiling of the first. The floors were brick but covered with wood in 1892. A ground floor room still retains an original fireplace. The Courthouse square contains an historical marker and Confederate and World War II memorials. As a National Historic Landmark, the Lancaster County Courthouse is considered to “possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating and interpreting the heritage of the United States.” Listed in the National Register February 24, 1971; Designated a National Historic Landmark November 7, 1973. [Courtesy of the SC Dept. of Archives and History]
A log house (1795-1800) and a frame building (18001828) served as courthouses before the present structure, which was financed with a legislative appropriation of $10,000 made on December 17, 1825. The contractor, Willis W. Alsobrook, complained that the money was insufficient, and the legislature was obliged to add an additional $3,050 for alterations “to the advantage of the Public Building but to the great prejudice of the contractor. .. . ”
This attractive building was designed by Robert Mills, America’s first native-born, professionally trained architect. He was the state engineer and architect in Charleston when the courthouse was built. Mills later served under President Jackson as architect of public buildings in Washington, where he designed the Treasury Building, Patent Office, the old Post Office, and the Washington Monument.
The Rock Hill Herald reported on March 13, 1884 – “A major fire in Lancaster began in the store of Mr. B.F. Welch in the Moore Building and spread to the entire block. The store of T.M. Fitzpatrick and Brother is now a shell. The stock and store of W. Ganson in the Hasseltin Building was damaged. The store of S.C. Van Landingham was burned out and the law office of Moore and Moore was destroyed. Furniture in the Masonic Lodge was damaged.”
The Lancaster Ledger contained an ad on Aug. 4, 1886 – “For a removal sale at Wm. Ganson’s store stating, there are only ten days left before we remover our stock of goods into the spacious new store in the Payseur Building.”
The Lancaster News of March 20, 1925 stated – “A giant oak tree was cut down to make way for the new Lancaster Co. Office Building. The tree is said to have been planted by the father of Maj. W. Pinckney Caskey. It was a magnificent tree.”
This courthouse has been in constant use since it was built (1825-1828), with only three remodeling necessary. Each remodeling remained true to the original architectural unity of design. The building has also survived an 1859 fire, Sherman’s troops, and settlement cracks that caused tie-rods to be installed in 1885. The last preservation effort was in 1979 when air conditioning, an elevator, and a new staircase were installed at a cost of about ten times the price of the entire original building. Postcard courtesy of Steve Ghent / Courtesy of the Lancaster County Pictorial History by Bishop and Pettus, 1984
Yorkville Enquirer, Wednesday, March 18, 1863: Editorial Items
Capt. L. M. Grist was on wounded furlough and was enrollment officer for Conscripts in Lancaster District. On Friday he was scheduled to be at the Lancaster CH. He reported that the Army of the Potomac required 50,000 horses and mules, 1,000 die every day, and 5,000 are in horse hospitals around Washington.
Yorkville Enquirer, Wednesday, April 15, 1863: 35 of 148 Conscripts in Lancaster District
Capt. Grist was close to completing the Conscript enrollment in Lancaster District. He enrolled 148 men, seventy-four were turned down by doctors, and thirty-five were accepted.
*** Historian, Harvey S. Teal’s S.C. Post Office History, 1989 states: the Lancaster Courthouse also served as a Post Office. The Lancaster Courthouse Post Office was operated by the first Postmaster, Mr. William Simpson from 1797 through the Civil War.”
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IMAGE GALLERY via photographer Bill Segars – 2007