Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1892-08-11

lots not taken up, but not 10 re-
move any Of the boundary posts;
| 1t appearing that part Of zone acre
or land, whereon the Court House
Of st. Mays county now stands,
was heretofore given ny Philip
Lynes, Esqr., deceased. to the
Justices Of the county for that pur-
pose, but through neglect Of the
Clerk. doth not appear upon re-
cord, though three Of the bound
poles are now standing, and the
place Of the other well known. The
said land, contained within the
said bounds, is hereby vested in tho
Justices, to the use Of the said
county for ever. The surveyor to
make fair plat Of Leonardtown,
which was to be subscribed to BY
the Commissioners and BY them re-
turned to the county Clerk, and hy
him be entered among the land
records of ST. Mary county.
On the 2nd day Of the March
term Of the Circuit Of st. Mary's
county in 1881, the Court House
accidentally took fire, and notwith-
standing the presence Of large
ccncourso OF citizcns,,the building
with many Of the land and other
records was entirely consumed.
On tho following Tuesday the citi-
zens Of the county met at Leonard
town aud requested the Levy Court
to borrow q sufficient amount Of
money to builda new Court House.
The Court appointed Henry G $.
Key, Joseph Harris and Enoch 1.
Millard to consummate the loan,
which they did with Robert Gilmore
Of Baltimore City, the amount
being $500.
The contract for thebuilding was
made with Ignatius Mudd, 81 Wash-
lington city, under the supervision
Of VIM. r. Small, architect Of Bal
timorc city and on the 9th day Of
August, 1881 the corner stone was
lad al the North East corner of the
main building by Captain George
Dent, a highly respectable citizen
Of the county, seyenty-five years
old, and Of revolutionary fame,
aided By the master briek-mason
Francis Alexander Spalding and
Fielder Magrnder, who deposited
Hereunder the following articles ID
the presence Of large and respec-
table assemblage 81 citizens, aud
others: One ten cent piece Of u s.
coiu Of 1880; one 20 cent piece Of
u. y. corn of 1923: one copy Of tho
Maryland Gazett, Of October 22nd,
177g, Saml. and Frederick Green,
Feditors, Church Street, Annapolis;
several copies Of the Same edited by
Jonas Green, Annapolis; one copy
Of the Baltimore Patriot Of August
1881, Isaac Monroe, editor; one
copy Of paper edited BY Francis
Preston Blair, Washington, d c.
of August 3, 1881, containing the
4th of July Grafton Of John Quincy
Adams; one copy Of the PhiladeI-
phia Album, edited by Robert Nor
ris, Of July Both, 1881; one copy Of
! the Globe, edited BY Francis Pres
ton Blair, Washington, D. O., Of
August 3, 1881. Endorsed OH the
/ package was the following: "Aiay
the arrow Of death culver in the
hands 81 those who attempt to
stiiiethe pure ermin Of Justice with-
| III these walls" "My Country and
| Country's cause. 'Liberty and
Union one and inseperable.
signed George Platter.
After which an appropriate ora
ton was delivered BY Henry g. $.
Key. Esqr.,
AT this period, our judicial Cir
cult was known us the list, and was
composed 81 St. Mary's, Charles
and Prince Georges counties, aud
! John Stephens was Chief Justice,
Edmund Key aud John II. Platter
were Associate Justices.
Joseph Harris was Clerk of the
| Circuit Court for st, Mary's county.
\ Enoch l. Willard. Register Of Wills
and Benjamin q. Cole, sheriff.
Joseph Spalding, postmaster, Of
| Leonardtown was the amanuensis
on the occasion.
Although Leonardtown is one
| hundred and sixty-four Years old
with population Of only about
six h it still has advantages
over many other towns in the State,
being beautifully located near the
head Of Britton's Bay, tributary
Of the Potomac River, seven miles
4 from its mouth. which presents q
broad expanse Of water which grad
ually narrows as You approach Leon
| ardtown, The shore 0ai either side
OF tho bay is remarkably pictures
lque and gratifying to3hc eye, dis
closing here and there q creek or
inlet, then q semieirelilar hollow or
cove, now aud then y gently slop-
/ ing hill upon the crest Of which q
neat farm house ii to be seen, SUR
rounded with the comforts of d
country home. humorous springs
! Of clear. cold water are to be found
i along the shores, pouring out at the
base Of an elevated bank, covered
/ with trees aud thick arbors of wild