Seen as an important center to the city, Lycoming County’s second courthouse stood at the intersection of Pine and West Third streets for 109 years before its demolition in 1969.

When conversation eventually turned to razing the 1860 courthouse to construct a building with modern amenities, local organizations fought to keep the historically significant building standing.

“Opponents of these projects, led by the Williamsport Community Arts Council and The Lycoming County Historical Society, did not deny the need for new offices but argued for the preservation of historically important and artistically attractive structures,” Robert Larson, Richard Morris and John F. Piper Jr., authors of “Williamsport, Frontier Village to Regional Center,” wrote.

The county’s commissioners agreed to demolish the historical structure, which with time had proven to be heating inefficient, according to local lawyer Charles Greevy III. As plans were discussed for the new building, one option that was rumored for the new courthouse was to build two stories on the top to house the county prison, but building constraints kept the courthouse to four stories.

“That’s when they had to start looking for a new jail. They (were rumored to have) planned to put the jail on top of the courthouse,” Greevy said.

The opposition to demolishing the courthouse lost the battle and the county’s second courthouse was razed in the spring of 1969. The court system was moved to the Post Office on Fourth Street, which also housed the Federal Court system. That post office would later become city hall after the Federal Court house was built in 1978.

During the construction of the county courthouse, the prothonotary and register and recorders offices rented a building on Third Street near where the present county prison stands, according to Greevy.

In May of 1971 the courthouse officially opened at a total cost to the county of $3.5 million. The layout of the offices were constructed to give the rooms on each floor the ability to be moved as needs changed. An example of that change are the three judges that were added to the court over the years since the building was opened.

“At the time they torn down the old courthouse, we still had two judges and the thought of a third judge didn’t come around until the early 80s,” Greevy said.

The county tax assessment, children and youth and commissioners’ offices were all located in the courthouse after it was opened, but they all grew over time and moved to separate offices.

Symbols from the past courthouses had been saved from the 1860 courthouse and were given their own homes in the new building. A weather vane symbolizing a woman holding the scales of justice and a bronze bell, both purchased in 1804 to adorn the first courthouse, are kept on the grounds of the current courthouse along with a date stone and an inscription of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address that were incorporated into the second courthouse. An inscription outside of the new courthouse reads: “These items are symbolic of Lycoming County’s proud past and reminders that the future can perpetuate the progress that has been our tradition.”

Three statues that rested above the judge’s bench in courtroom one of the second courthouse depicting three women holding a sword and scales was also rescued from the demolished building. However, while transporting the statues, they were dropped and shattered. A Williamsport High School art instructor, named Robert Schuler, restored the statues that now are housed behind glass on the second floor of the courthouse.