The
Allegany County Court House was constructed from an act of the General
Assembly of 1789. The part of Washington County westward of Sideling Hill
Creek became Allegany County. The name Allegany is derived from the indian
word "Oolikhanna" meaning beautiful stream.
The first courts were held at the
home of John Graham. According to local historians, court business was
held in the tavern of Abraham Faw, which was located on Green street until
a proper courthouse could be erected.An act by the General Assembly of
1793 authorized the construction of a courthouse and a jail. The courthouse
was not ready for occupancy until 1799. The cost of the courthouse was
$3,062.50.In 1806 the General Assembly allocated $1200.00 to build record
rooms for the Clerk of Court and the Register of Wills. Even with the addition,
the courthouse soon became too small for the county's growing needs. In
1834 the General Assembly provided that a new courthouse be built for $5,000.00.
The new courthouse was ready to be occupied In 1841.
Thirty years later the General Assembly
granted to the County Commissioners authority to issue bonds in the sum
of $75,000.00 for enlarging and remodeling the courthouse and for building
a new jail. The courthouse was enlarged, along with the Clerk of Court
and Register of Wills offices. In addition, the appearance of the building, both inside and out,
was beautified.
On January 5, 1893 the Courthouse
caught fire and unfortunately the firefighters of Cumberland were unable
to save the building, only the vaults of the Clerk of Court and Registers
of wills survived.
Work began almost right away to build
a new courthouse, which is the one in present day use. During this time
the court held business in city hall. The Courthouse was constructed for
a total cost of $97,000.00. The Courthouse is situated on the site of the
old Fort Cumberland, overlooking the Potomac on one side and Wills Creek
on the other. The Courthouse has changed little since its original construction.
The building with its square steepled tower is the centerpiece of the Cumberland
Historical District.
Photo of First Courthouse from The
County Courthouses and Records of Maryland, Part One: The Courthouses,
Annapolis:The Hall of Records Commission of the State of Maryland, 1960
Photo of courthouse circa 1912 provided
by Feldstein's Local History Enterprises |
