If you’ve been through Continental Square as of late, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the transformation of the Futer Bros. Building. The three-story building clad in white vertical siding has been a fixture for over forty years, but the building itself is almost 160 years old.

John Hartman purchased the property in 1824. (Refer to the image in the Centre Square, 1815 post – the building on the far right is the one that Hartman purchased.) It had been Gottlieb Ziegle’s tavern and Sign of the General Jackson inn. Hartman constructed a new six-story building in 1849. Jacob Dietz was the carpenter – he also built the 1841 courthouse and County Almshouse.

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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.

Posted in 19th Century City architecture Continental Square

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When the Second Continental Congress arrived in York in September 1777, they found a sleepy frontier town in which most residents spoke German. Philadelphia it was not. Lodging became an immediate issue, as there were but 22 taverns and about 300 houses in York Town. Members of Congress did not travel alone, of course – they brought with them staff members to assist with the governing of the young nation. Many delegates began their time in York in overcrowded taverns, until such time that they could arrange for living quarters, frequently in private homes.

In some cases, delegates were able to rent a home, and perhaps share it with other delegates. Few patriots actually stayed in York all nine months that Congress met here. Many came and went and came and went, with the president of Continental Congress serving as the “glue” that held the body together.

When they arrived here, John Hancock was president; however, he resigned from Congress on October 31 and returned to his home in Massachusetts. Cousins John and Samuel Adams stayed in York for the first five weeks, then departed for Massachusetts – John would later travel to France while Samuel eventually returned to York in the final weeks that Congress met here.

(For a larger image, click here: http://scottbutcher.smugmug.com/photos/239128351-XL.jpg )

Throughout York’s tenure as colonial capital, the Square was abuzz with activity. Congress met in the County Court House, which by now had stood in Centre Square for over 20 years. A home on the northeastern quadrant of the Square served as the U.S. Treasury. Archibald McClean, owner of the building, was a surveyor and ardent patriot. On the southeastern quadrant stood Gottleib Ziegle’s tavern, which most likely hosted several delegates. Next door stood a building that served as an armory. Across George Street on the southwestern quadrant stood a building leased by delegate Daniel Roberdeau. According to early local histories, Roberdeau hosted John Adams and Samuel Adams, among other delegates. The Committee on Foreign Affairs, of which Thomas Paine served as Secretary, also met in this building.

Posted in 18th Century City architecture Continental Square Government Buildings

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When York County was created from Lancaster in 1749, five commissioners were named and charged with the task of forming the county. One of their assignments was to find land suitable for a courthouse, acquire it, and construct a building. Centre Square was the location chosen for the new building, similar to the Lancaster County courthouse, which stood in the town square.

For several years there was no courthouse, so courts functions were held in the homes of the court justices. In 1754, the commissioners entered into agreements with William Willis, John Meem, and Jacob Klein to serve as mason and carpenters for a new courthouse. Willis is notable for his work on two buildings that still stand, the Friends Meeting House on West Philadelphia Street as well as his own home on Willis Run Road.

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Around 1750, York residents began holding open markets in Centre Square. According to Gibson’s 1886 “History of York County, Pennsylvania,” the “custom of holding markets on Wednesday and Saturday in the center square of York, has been kept up without cessation since 1750.” Ironically, the year after Gibson’s history was published was the last year that markets were held in the Square.

George Stevenson, deputy surveyor for York County, lobbied for formal “market days” in a letter written in 1754: “Two Market Days in the Week, viz.: Wednesdays & Saturdays, for selling and buying daily Provisions, would prevent Impositions from Butchers, & Stop the Germans from their beloved Practice of buying & selling on Sundays, which I’m satisfied they continually do, tho’ ‘tis not easily detected.”

One year later, York was formally granted a charter to hold twice-weekly markets. “This grant of privilege states that the inhabitants of the town of York, in the new county of York, are become so numerous that they find it necessary to have a public market established within the said town of York, for the better supplying and accommodating them with good wholesome provisions, and other necessaries, under proper regulations.”

The charter then states that the Penn family, to the inhabitants of York, “grants and ordains that they and their successors shall and may forever thereafter hold and keep within the town, in every week in the year, two market days, the one on Wednesday and the other on Saturday, in such commodious place or places, as is, shall or may be, appointed for that purpose.”

The charter provided for a clerk of the market and granted authority to regulate the prices of bread, beer, and wine.

If the “market days” of Wednesday and Saturday sound familiar, it should. After the market ceased operating from the Square, Central Market House was constructed and took the days of Wednesday and Saturday for its regular market days.

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