Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-16
rhe New County Court House,

Countg Seat Of Charlotte Countg-Sh1a't
Of Rutland First C0urt-FFrst Cbatnta
!Sent-Rutlq1ad tile County Io'on-Su
Drevae Court at Rutland-FFrSt Corr
House-lState House United States
Court - Anti Court Rebellion -
Second Court House-Why North
Contemporary Descriptions-2A6 Fire
in s6s-Murder 7Faazs--Pub1ic Hall
Temporary Court Ro0mS-CauSes Cete-
5res-Neso Comfy Court House:
The March Term of the Rutland Coun-
~ Court commences to-day, and will as
semble for the fret time in the new Court
House at the corner of Court and Center
streets. The inauguration, so to speak,
Of this'new building to the use for which
it was erected makes it appropriate to
give brief resume of the former Courts
and Court Houses of Rutland County:
COUNTY SEAT OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY.
The first attempt to establish courts In
Rutland was petition of the "Proprietors
Of Socialborough" to Gov. William Tyron
IF New York, dated, or presented 10 the
Council Of New York, April s, 1872,
praying that the county town of Charlotte
County "may be fixed at Scarborough
n which case" they "engage to raise all
the money, which shall be necessary for
Erecting a convenient Court House and
Goal for said County"
II will be remembered that the present
territory Of Rutland, with some other,
vas granted by New York under the
uame Of Scarborough, and was made a
part Of the Comfy Of Charlotte.
What action was taken on this petition
ioas MT appear.
SHIRE OF RUTLAND.
Judges wero appointed for the shire OF
Rutland at the first session of the Legis-
lsture Of Vermont in March 1878, and at
the second session in June Of the same
gear, judges were appointed for = special
court
FIRST COURT.
In October 1878 four terms Of the Su-
gerior Court for the County of Benning
ton were appointed to be held, one of
which waa appointed at the House of Col.
James Meads in Rutland, in the shire of
Rutl4nd
FIRST COUNTY SEAT.
Rutlaud County was incorporated as a
aunty in February 1881, and Tinmouth,
aearly central az to population, and one
of the leading towns, was mado the ooun
" town.
RUTLAND TIE COUNTY TOWN.
Msrch 9th, 1884 the town of Rutland
wac established az the county town, and
it was enacted that "the place for public
buildingr III and for eaid County, be in
aid Rutland nigh the great road that
Lads from said town to Castleton, and
about twenty rods west of the house
where Mr. William Roberts new lives,
namely at the piece where Major Gideon
Rrownson, Major Ormsby and Capt. Abra-
ham Underhill, committee appointed
t,r that purpose did pitch a stake"
SUPREME COURT AT RUTLAND.
The same act also provided that after
the next August term of the Supreme
Court of this State, when holden in Rut-
land c unity, shall be holden in Rutland.
FIRST COURT HOUSE
4 court house was erected the same
year I1794) and is the building now stand
ing on West street, west of and adjoining |
the Advent Chapel, being, at the present
time, externally the same as when first
erected with the exception, perhaps, of
paint and blinds. Internally it was di-
vided into two rooms, the west one being
used for holding courts. On the north
aide were elevated seats for the Judges,
with benches in other parts for the jury,
lawyers, spectators, etc. This room had
a floor TIE east room had NO floor and
was used for . jury room This building
was u-ed for a Court House until 1922.
STATE HOUSE.
1t was also used, and generally Known
,s the State House, the Legislature hold
ing their annual sessions there for the
year 1854 and 1856.
UNITED STATES COURTS.
The sessions of the United States Dis
trict Court for the District of Vermont
were also held here in May and NQvem-
her 1871, and in May 1892
ANTI, COURT REBELLION.
One important and interesting incident
connected with this, the first court, should
not be unnoticed, that is, that it was tax
en- possession of, and held under control
by. the mob, for short time, during
what is known as the "Anti.Court Rebel
lion" In November 1856.
SECOND COURT HOUSE.
The second Court House was built in
1899, on the site of the one destroyed by
are in 1868. 1t was wooden building,
framed and clapboarded and faced to the ,
north, and had the same extent north and
aouth as when burned, but was thirty !.
feet less from east to west, and did not
have the front or west front or portioo. 1t
was built with money raised by voluntary
contributions or subscriptions.
A session of the Legislature was held
in this building in October of the same i
year, and an act was passed authorizing {
the raising by lottery of the sum of one |
hundred and sixty pounds lawful money, |
lbeiug Ave hundred and tbirty-three dol l
lars and thirty-three- cents in federal cur {
renoy) "for the purpose of defraying the {
expenses of builing the new Court House
in Rutland"
WHY NoRTHr
There is tradition that thi. Court
House was built facing or fronting to the
north, instead of to the street, on account
Of an agreement of Capt Nathaniel Cove,