"When the proposed building is completed and occupied, it is intended that the existing County Courthouse shall be removed, and that the existing County Clerk's building shall be disposed of." Excerpt from a letter dated July 9, 1946 from the firm of Conrad and Cummings, Architects, Binghamton, N. Y. to the Chairman of the Building committee of the Board of Supervisors of Tioga County.

This is something I recently found in the newspaper files at the Tioga County Historical Society Museum. I was surprised to learn that 51 years ago we came close to losing our court house. The one that has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972.

Searching back further to see what may have led up to this, I came to the summer of 1931 when the towers were removed. At first, Owego contractor, James R. Ford was supposed to replace the slate on the roof of the four towers. When he got up there, he discovered that all the woodwork was decayed beyond repair due to a previous job a few years before when small sheets of tin had been used to replace the missing slates. The tin had rusted out, causing the wood underneath to rot. The slate wasn't placed close enough together and the water leaked through. The building committee called a special meeting of the legislature to discuss the problem.

It was clear from the start of the meeting that all four towers needed major work. Ford felt he could not lower the fire bell tower on the northeast side because the bell hung too high to allow for the removal of enough brick to cap it with a four-cornered roof. Then it was brought out that there were TWO bell towers. The northeast tower housed the fire bell, and the southeast tower housed a bell that was once used for summons to court. As we know, the four towers were all lowered and capped. The fire bell was lowered enough to accommodate the new look, but could not be rung, and has just been sitting there dormant ever since.

Searching further, I found that the bell from the southeast tower had quite a history. It came from the old court house built in 1822. The Legislature wound up loaning it to the village of Owego to be placed in the Croton Hose No. 3 fire company on Talcott street in September, 1931. Croton Hose replaced the bell with a siren in 1953, and so far, I have not been able to track it down.

The papers had important news in 1946, when preliminary plans were drawn for a proposed new court house and county office building. The Legislature probably did not want to go through the expense of repairing and/or enlarging the court house again, and decided to "think big."

The March 14^th Owego Gazette reported that the building Committee of the county Board of Supervisors and the county attorney, Howard M. Robison, were authorized by the board to acquire the necessary property for the proposed new court house. The county would be asking for financial help from New York State through the Post War Planning Commission.

The April 18th Owego Gazette reported the Binghamton firm of Conrad & Cummings, architects, had delivered the blueprints of the proposed building to Supervisor Ira A. Smith, Chairman of the building committee. The site would be on the west side of Park street, across from the present court house and next door (north) of what is today, the Estey & Munroe Funeral Home. It is where the former Congregational church once stood. The county also needed to purchase other property near that site that would include a brick house owned by Earle H. Pitcher, plus several plots of land then being used for gardens. The back of the proposed new court house would extend to Parker Lane.

Plans were made to tear down the court house, and the empty site would once again become part of the village park. If the County Clerks' offices relocated into the new court house, that building would be offered for sale to the town of Owego for their offices.

The estimated (1946) cost was $225,000 based on 1940 prices for materials and construction. The Board of Supervisors did not favor going ahead with the project until building costs were lower. However, (and this was important) it was noted that the construction could be made obligatory upon the county if any one of the Supreme Court Justices in this judicial district decided that the old court house was no longer fit for holding court sessions.

The proposed three-story building was designed to house the following:
First Floor: Treasurer, Attorney, Probation Officer, District Attorney, Surrogate Court, Judge, Children's Court, and County Clerk.
Second Floor: Court Room, Home Bureau, 4-H Club, Veterans Bureau, Farm Bureau, State Veterans Service, Soil Conservation, and Agricultural Adjustment Administration.
Third Floor: Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Board of Elections, Civil Service Commission, Highway Department, and a meeting room for the Board of Supervisors.

It was noted that there was no space included for welfare offices, the Supreme Court Justice chamber, a law library, a public hearing room and last, but far from least, the jail.

The inclusion of the jail was suggested because of the "eyesore" on Court street. The new building would prevent the prisoners from shouting and whistling at people passing by.

The June 13th newspapers reported that the State Post War Planning Commission approved the architects plan and the preliminary work. A resolution was made by Supervisor Ira A. Smith of Owego, and seconded by Supervisor Homer L. Justice, of Berkshire: (in part)
"Resolved that the proposed new County Court House and Office Building be located on Westerly side of Park Street in the Village of Owego on the premises known as the Social Center lot, or 21-25 Park Street, now owned by the County of Tioga, and premises known as 17 Park Street and reputedly owned by Charles Arnold and that the County Attorney be authorized and directed to commence proper condemnation proceedings immediately to obtain title of the lot known as 17 Park Street in the name of the County of Tioga."

By October 3rd, the cost of the proposed court house was estimated at $395,000. The architect pointed out to the building committee that the plans would not be adequate for the needs of the county. The plans, as drawn, showed all of the space occupied as soon as they moved in. There was no room for expansion.

Since the county would not be building it for a few years, it left little doubt that the original plans would have to be either revised or a complete new set re-drawn. The Board of Supervisors had a lot to think about before they gave their final approval. But as time and priorities have their way, all of these exciting plans were laid aside and the newspapers didn't have any more news.

In the early 1950s, repairs were made to the floors on the old court house and it continued to be used. The county clerks building continued with its daily operations, as usual. (The town of Owego would have to look elsewhere.)

In April and July, 1969 the Board of Supervisors contracted to repair the roof, cornices, and for painting. Other major repairs were made in the 1970s and 1980s.

On December 26, 1972, the court house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, thanks to a group of hard working citizens who cared enough to see that it would he preserved with no more threats of tearing it down.

Even though the 1946 Board of Supervisors never saw their new court house materialize, I think they would be satisfied with the way things turned out. Can you imagine all of the county departments we have today, including the jail, in a three-story building on Park street? Not to mention the lack of parking.