Do you believe in ghosts?
The Essex County Courthouse has several of them.
Now I’m not writing about the spirit of abolitionist John Brown whose casket stayed overnight in the building on its way home to North Elba in 1859.
And, it’s not the ghosts that are defined as “an apparition of a dead person.” No paranormal activity here.
But there are ‘ghosts’ in an architectural perspective. Very often old buildings provide hints to their earlier appearance. Hidden in walls might be vestiges of former door and window openings, exterior walls, paint colors and more. On many occasions, such earlier features can be observed from the outside and these often disguised signs are termed ‘ghosts’ from an earlier time.
The Essex County Courthouse is no exception.
Let’s look at its building history.
The present structure is the third county courthouse built on the acre of land sold by Simon and Lucy Frisbee in 1809 to the county supervisors. The first courthouse, described as being of “very modest scale,” burned shortly after it opened and its replacement (also constructed of wood) burned in 1823. Apparently, the local Baptist Church used the courtroom for its meetings during this time. Rather than repeat the fire-prone earlier structures the county supervisors decided to build courthouse #3 of brick and in 1824 raised a one-story building with a front entrance flanked by windows and five windows on each side.
The arrangement worked well until 1843 when it required expansion.
Workers added a second story, a wide Greek-Revival style portico and pediment supported by four columns and flat-topped cupola. The side windows mirrored the placement and style of those on the first floor. The second story front had a door with two windows. The door permitted access to the second floor courtroom and was reached by two sets of exterior stairs. The first level had assorted offices and a library.
It was into this building that Brown’s casket was carried to in 1859.
This exterior design functioned until 1880-1881 when the building underwent a facelift and expansion. The county allocated $6,000 for the project.
The two sets of stairs and related balcony to the second story disappeared as did the door. Its opening was filled in with brick. Two large eight-pane windows with decorative brick arches replaced the four earlier windows.
A new bell tower replaced the one constructed in 1843 and described in 1880 as an “old deformity” and this newer design featured a peaked roof.
Slate replaced the old wooden roof shingles.
Inside, the old second floor courtroom moved to the first floor and workers removed the second floor just leaving a balcony for visitors.
On the sides all the windows were removed and five new windows that matched their front facade counterparts installed three on one side and two on the other. Why the irregular numbers? When doing the courthouse expansion the county added fifteen feet to the rear of the building plus a wing to the west that mimicked the new alterations. The new addition contained a number of offices with specific space for the County Treasurer and District Attorney plus a meeting room for the Board of Supervisors. As it cut into the existing structure, one window was not required.
The new windows filled some of the spots vacated by the older windows. Masons laid brick in the former openings plus the gaps above the new frames.
Here’s where the ‘ghosts’ enter the scene. If you walk over to the courthouse survey the sides and front façade. You can pick out the former window locations by their brick patches. No matter how qualified the mason or the brick maker, it’s difficult to match construction from forty years earlier. Right above the front door you can pick out the 1843 second floor door opening.
Now on the east side only two windows from the 1880-1881 renovations remain. That’s due to another wing constructed in 1910 eliminated one window.
Buildings might try to hide their past, but ‘ghosts’ supply hints to the secrets.
So, next time you walk or drive around Elizabethtown of other Essex County communities, check out brick buildings and look for ‘ghosts.’
Just remember, they’re not frightening, just pieces of history.
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