The Franklin County Commissioners, along with President Judge Shawn Meyers, invite the public to join in a commemoration of the 160th anniversary of Franklin County’s Historic Courthouse. A special ceremony is planned for 5 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Franklin County Judicial Center, 14 N. Main St., Chambersburg.
Franklin County’s Historic Courthouse opened to the public in October 1865. It replaced the county’s previous courthouse, which was destroyed during the Confederates’ burning of Chambersburg on July 30, 1864. Even as the county’s complement of facilities have expanded over the decades to accommodate an ever-growing population, the Historic Courthouse has remained an iconic symbol of a community’s rebirth and resilience.
“When you think of Franklin County, you immediately picture the Historic Courthouse,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. “Our courthouse has always been more than just a building to house trials, judicial proceedings and county offices. This building is a source of pride for everyone who has ever called Franklin County home, and we’re pleased to be celebrating this milestone.”
As part of the Oct. 27 ceremony, the county will place a time capsule into the base of its Benjamin Franklin statue, which once topped the courthouse and is now located in the lobby of the Judicial Center. The capsule contains the winning entries from a countywide competition that asked local students to share what they love about Franklin County with future generations. Staff anticipate sealing the time capsule for 25 years.
Representatives of the Council for the Arts will also be on hand to discuss local artists’ work to create two massive, two-story murals as part of the Judicial Center’s design. Dozens of artists contributed to the project, which took 27 months to complete from its initial conception to installation. One mural depicts a rendering of the Historic Courthouse and hangs in the atrium; the second tells the story of Franklin County’s history, culture, agriculture and industrial and manufacturing heritage and hangs in the facility’s self-help center.
For a complete history of Franklin County’s court facilities, including the Historic Courthouse, visit https://bit.ly/4nWViSi. To learn more about the time capsule project or the Benjamin Franklin statue, visit https://bit.ly/FCArchivesBlog. Details of the mural project are also available online at https://bit.ly/4nWVml0.
