Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-05-01
A BIT OF
EARLY HISTORY

We are indebted to V. A. Lotier for
al old newspaper clipping containing
some interesting facts of local history
which center on the first court house,
obtained from J. Frazer of Cincinnati,
O., who in his time was identified
with the early history of this county.
Probably all with exception Of a
very few Of our readers are aware that
that Montour county at one time form
ed part of Columbia county, which
was established in 1913. Danville was
selected as the county seat. Later the
townships of Turbot and Chillisquaque
were cut off and annexed to Northum-
berland county This disseverence left
Danville, considerably west of the
center and furnished an excuse for
those who from the first desired Blooms
burg as the county seat to renew an
agitation looking TO the removal Of
the seat of justice to that place. In
l845 they accomplished their object
much to the dissatisfaction of this part
of the county. The result was the
establishment of Montour county in
1850.
The first court was held here in
1914, in the second story of log ware
house on the river bank a few doors
east of Mill street. Seth Chapman of
Northumberland was president judge
and William Montgomery and Leonard
Rupert, the associate judges.
Among the members of the bar at
that day were Alem Mari who grad
uated at Princeton in 1907 and was
admitted to pratice in 1913. Later
Ebenezer Greenough came up from
Sunbury and hung out his shingle.
George A. Frick was also among the
early attorneys and practiced for
many years.
To defeat the movement on foot to
remove the seat of justice to Blooms
burg the weathiest citizens of Danville
with commendable liberality under
took with the small aid of $1050 from
the county to erect a new court house.
The building which was commenced
April, 1915, and completed September,
1916, cost So, $50 80. The sum furnish
ed by the county did not go very far,
and the big residue of nearly 1000
was raised by popular subscription,
Daniel and William Montgomery lead
ing off with $1,000 each and Joseph
Maus, Thomas Woodside, Philip
Goodman, Alexander Montgomery and
James Longhead following with sub
scriptions of 800 each. There were
many smaller subscriptions of various
sums.
The new court house was built by
O'Malley q Vastine. The bill of items
found in the old clipping furnishes
very interesting reading One hundred
and four thousand brick were used at
81 so per thousand; laying the brick
and boarding the hands cost 1882; 1920
bushels of lime were used at 10 cents
per bushel; hauling for eight months
with one team cost 1924 hauling stone
from below Indiantown, $3l 80
The carpenter work cost 800. Putting
up scaffolds and tying wythes, so.
Boarding two carpenters for six months
$96. Toward the foot of the column
is an item as follows: Sixty four
gallons of whiskey, $64 "
This was considered a very mode
rate cost for liquid refreshment neces-
sary to render complete the roof, walls
and floors of the temple of justice.
The old clipping quantity adds: I'm
the erection of building of the same
size 20 years prior eleven barrels-in
stead of two-of the indispensable
liquid would have been consumed. -
The present court house was built
in 1853.