February 2008 Archives

Change came again to the “Square” in 1815 with the expansion of the first courthouse. This “expansion” didn’t change the building footprint at all, but allowed for more usable space on the second floor. Cross-gables were added on the north and south of the building, allowing more headroom on the second floor. In addition to the new gables, the building also received a large new cupola, allowing for installation of a town clock with four faces. From existing drawings, it appears that the cupola had a lookout and bell, which would further classify it as a belfry. (In common usage, many of us would simply refer to it as a clock tower.)

This project created the appearance of a more substantial building in the town square. By now there were three structures in Centre Square: the courthouse, State House, and a market shed, the east end of which is pictured in this 1830 William Wagner view. The graphic depicts the buildings as viewed from the southwestern quadrant of the Square. The red brick building to the right of the State House (on the southeast quadrant) is the Golden Swan Tavern, which still stands today. Also note the large half-round window in the courthouse gable as well as the prominent pedimented entrance, which is believed to have been added in the 1790s.

True or false: The Johannes and Cristina Schultz House along Locust Grove Road in Springettsbury Township is the oldest in York County?

Most people who have studied York County history will probably answer “True.” After all, the datestone, translated, states: “In the year, 1734, John Schultz and his wife Christina, built this house.”

If the house was constructed in 1734, then it is probably the oldest in York County because there are no records of any other extant structure being built earlier.

Local historians (including me) have reported this “fact” again and again over the years. Recently, however, there has been some question as to the authenticity of that “fact.”

In fairness, local architectural historians have always dealt with a dichotomy in classifying the building as the county’s “oldest.” How can the oldest surviving building be a large, two-story building? Early buildings are known to have been simple, one-story log structures. Other surviving stone buildings from the general period (e.g., Martin Schultz House in Hallam) are one-story. In some ways it defied logic that such a large house was also the oldest.

Still, there is that datestone: 1734.

As a researcher of local history and architecture, I have also been a bit troubled by the apparent contradiction. Over the past few months I’ve conducted my own research, with input from Karen Arnold of Historic York and suggestions from others.

My conclusion? Well, there is no conclusion. We simply can’t know for sure because of the lack of records from the period. However, there is some notable evidence to cast doubt on the claim.