Programming and Outreach for All Ages

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The Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda, Pennsylvania, as well as the public square on which it sits, is a fascinating place. The story of the courthouse square begins 200 years ago, but the history is not always what you would expect. Government corruption, fire, prostitution and much more combine to give us the fascinating history of the square. Highlighted with images of the courthouse square and buildings, photos of important people, and scans of early county documents, this program will take participants on an unforgettable journey through history. Find out why the county seat was almost located in a town called “New Baltimore”. Learn about the courthouse fire of 1847. Discover what life was like around the courthouse during the Victorian period, when over 60 “women in scarlet” targeted the courthouse during jury trials. Find out why some Bradford County wives refused to allow their husbands to attend jury duty. Hear about the construction of the present courthouse. Learn why the county commissioners were placed on trial after construction was finished; why one commissioner sobbed aloud repeatedly while on the stand; and why the judge who presided over the case was later impeached. Listen to early opinions of the courthouse and its design. See the courthouse as it appeared during important events in history.