County Courthouse Turns 150, Special Meeting Set for This Week

LOCK HAVEN – Almost 150 years to the day, the Clinton County Commissioners this Thursday will hold a special meeting commemorating the very first commissioners’ meeting in the new county courthouse, held on Friday, Feb. 8, 1869.

The county has announced that in celebration of the courthouse’s 150th anniversary, the commissioners’ meeting this Thursday will be relocated from the Piper Building to the large courtroom of the courthouse; an invitation has been extended to the public “to attend this brief and special session” scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

Local attorney Justin Houser will give a brief talk on the building’s history and county commissioner Jeff Snyder will provide an update on building renovation plans. Light refreshments will be provided, the county said, to mark the kickoff event celebrating the courthouse birthday this year.

Commissioners at the time of the first meeting in 1869 were A. J. Quigley, John Rishel and T. M. Wolf. William H. Smith was chief clerk.

According to “Historic Lock Haven,” the courthouse project was approved in 1867, the cost $102,464. Much of the structure, according to the architect’s specifications at the time, came from “Farrandsville Stone, cut, rubbed smooth and set in the best manner.”