New Meeting House
After years of delay, construction of a new meeting house on the Square had just begun. In August 1791 the committee appointed by the proprietors of the town reported "that opposite the court house on the northwest side of Main street is the most eligible place that a meeting house can be erected on". It was further reported the building "should be sixty feet in length and forty-five feet wide, with a steeple at one end and proportionally high".
However, the carrying through of these plans were greatly hampered due to lack of funds which had to be obtained by both private donations and fundraisings efforts.
Finally, in November 1799, the committee appointed for the building advertized "To Carpenters - Wanted in the township of Wilkesbarre, a Good Workman who will undertake to procure and set up a Frame for a Meeting-house, fifty-five feet in front and proportionally wide, with a Steeple - enclose the same completely and lay the floors. Any person inclining to undertake the work, or any part, is desired to send forward his proposals in writing."
On July 7, 1800, it was announced "The raising of the new Meeting House in Wilkesbarre, will commence on Wednesday morning, 9th inst., at 9 'clock, weather permitting. The services of any gentleman who chuse to attend will be thankfully received.
Joseph Hitchcock,
Principal Architect.
It was to be an additional eleven years before enough fund were acquired for Hitchcock to completed his work.
Log Courthouse & Jail
The county's combined courthouse and jail was located on the northeast quadrant of Centre Square on the site of ruins of the old fort. Completed in 1791, it was about 25 by 50 feet in size, two stories high, and constructed of hewn logs. The first story was used as a jail and jailor's residence. The court room was on the second floor, with steps on the outside of the building leading to the courtroom.
Having outgrown its usefulness, the county commissioners in September of 1800 issued a "Public Notice" that they would "receive proposals for furnishing the following materials for building a courthouse: Stone, by the perch; Brick, by the thousand; Lime, by the bushel; Scantling and Boards, per thousand. Articles to be of the best quality".
In December it was announced they had "contracted Joseph Hitchcock, to build and complete in the best manner, a courthouse in the town of Wilkesbarre. The size of the building is to be 63 feet front, and 53 deep. The plan of the building is taken from the Courthouse in Frederickstown, Maryland."
In the following years the log courthouse and jail was moved aside and a new structure, in the form of a cross, declared by the commissioners to be "most elegant and convenient", was erected on the site of the old log courthouse. When the new building was completed the old one was converted into the Wilkes-Barre Academy.
Joseph Hitchcock
Architect and Builder
Thirty-five year old Joseph Hitchcock, born in Bolton, Connecticut, came to Wilkes-Barre about 1797 seeking opportunities. In early 1800 Hitchcock became the principal architect and builder of the new Meeting House on the Square and in December 1800 was contracted "to build and complete in the best manner" a courthouse in the town of Wilkes-Barre. He also built the mission church at Forty Fort.
His wife was Hannah Platt, age 25, of Oswego, New York.
Clark Beebe's Saddlery
Clark Beebe, age 32, was a saddler from East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut . His wife was Clorinda. His brothers Timothy, Gideon and Lyman and their families also lived in Wilkes-Barre at this time.
Beebe was also a mail carrier. He also advertized that he would "during the winter keep sleighs and horses and carry passengers to and from Easton; leaving Wilkes-Barre every Wednesday."
In 1802 Beebe partnered with Thomas A. Alkins to "carry on the Saddlery Business in Wilkesbarre, under the Firm of Alkins & Beebe. They solicit the patronage of their friends and the public and will dispatch Good work for prompt pay."
In 1808 he offered his property for sale and eventually moved to Green County, Illinois:
"To Be Sold: By private sale, a certain two story house, 45 by 20 ft. a good barn and lot of ground in the Borough of Wilkesbarre, being as per Certificate, part of Lot No. 20, containing 57 2-10 perches bounded by the centre square and centre street and by the lands of Isaac Carpenter and the other part of said lot No. 20, with the privilege of a well and pump of excellent water near the house, the greater part of the buildings are entirely new and suitable to carry on any kind of pubic business being only a few rods from the Court House. An indisputable title will be given and the terms of sale made known by, Clark Beebe. There are 10 apple and 2 cherry trees of excellent fruit on the premises".
Thomas Duane's Tavern & Store
Thomas Duane, Esq., age 41, owned a good deal of the property on the north side of Centre Square directly across from the log courthouse and jail. Purchased in the fall of 1793 from Jonathan Hancock, the house with its stable and smith's shop were situated about halfway between Main and Centre streets and used as a tavern and a store ideally located to serve those in town on courthouse business. There also was a partially completed frame building at the corner of Main street which he leased to Jonathan Hancock to be used as a tavern or inn.
Duane was appointed a Justice of the Peace in June of 1800. His wife was Hannah Gore, age 49, Obadiah Gore's daughter and widow of Timothy Pierce who was killed in the massacre at Wyoming. The Duane's had two sons, Henry, age 11, and Timothy, 8 and a daughter Harriet as well as Clarissa Pierce, 26, Hannah's daughter from her first marriage.
By 1805 Duane and his family moved out of Wilkes-Barre, eventually to Oswego, New York, where he opened a store.
Jonathan Hancock's Tavern
Jonathan Hancock's tavern and inn was one of the more commodious in town. In May 1792 he purchased the piece of land that fronted a good portion of the north side of the Square, including the Main street corner. He then leased the smaller house that was on the property to John P. Schott as a tavern and began to erect a larger hotel building at the corner to further accommodate those in town on court business. However, he sold the entire property to Thomas Duane and ended up leasing the new building. In 1798 Hancock advertised " that he still continues his House of Public entertainment in Wilkesbarre at the usual place."
Hancock, age 33, was born in Snowhill, Maryland. He and his wife Martha Young came to Wilkes-Barre in 1791 from Dauphin County where he taught school. In addition to being an innkeeper he was also the post rider who carried the mail between Wilkes-Barre and Berwick.
He and Martha had three sons, John, 9, James, 6 and newborn William and three daughters, Catherine, 7, Polly, 4 and Martha, 2
Capt. John P. Schott's Store
The store owned by John P. Schott's on Main street near the northeast corner of the Square was built about 1794. Schott had kept the small tavern that was on the north side of the Square until Thomas Duane took over in 1793. His new building was a large frame house of two stories. From April 1794, to October 1797, the meetings of the Masonic Lodge were regularly held in an upper room of the house. In 1798 he advertized that he "lately opened an assortment of dry-goods, hardware, &c., broadcloths, tammies, fustians, cut nails, screw augurs, watch-chains and seals — with many other articles too tedious to mention."
Fifty-six year old Capt. John P. Schott was German-born professional soldier who came to America in 1775 and offered his services to the American cause. He was appointed Captain in the Continental army and was with Sullivan's army marched from Wilkes-Barre July 1779. Upon its return the following October Captain Schott and his corps were left behind to assist in garrisoning the fort. It was then he became determined to make Wilkes-Barre his permanent home.
In 1780, Schott purchased his land at which bounded the side of Centre Square and married Naomi Sill, daughter of Jabez Sill. In 1782 he purchased land on Bank street near the corner of South from the estate of his father-in-law where he built "the old red house" and kept an inn and later a store.
In December 1790, Captain Schott was appointed by Governor Mifflin a Justice of the Peace for Wilkes-Barre.
Schott and his wife had three sons and one daughter: John, Jr., 18; James, 16; George, 14; and Charlotte, 12.
In December 1803 Schott advertised " John P. Schott, having opened a House of Entertainment at his well known Stand, on the north-east corner of the Public Square - wishes a share of the public patronage. Those who think proper to call at his House, may be assured of his exertions to give satisfaction."
In the Summer of 1804 Schott and his family moved to Philadelphia, where he received an appointment as one of the inspectors of customs in the U. S. Custom House.
Asher Miner's Schoolhouse
Twenty two year old Asher Miner earned his living by teaching. In 1799 he opened a school in a small building on the east side of Centre Square where he undertook "to instruct youth in Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and English Grammar" asserting that "Proper attention will be paid to the Morals and Manners of those committed to his care."
Asher's pupils in 1800 included Lord Butler's children Pierce, Houghton, and Silvina, ages 11, 9 and 6. Butler paid Asher $6.00 for the quarter ending November 29, 1800 and the following February added a dollar for the wood used during the winter.
Remnants of Hollenback's Store
On the west side of the Square were the remnants of the dwelling and store that Matthias Hollenback had built when he moved from Mill Creek. It had been burned by the Indians in July 1778. Afterwards, in 1780-81, Hollenback erected a long two-story frame building on the west side of South main street below Northampton where his family resided and had a store for many years thereafter.
Putnam Catlin's Farm
Putnam Catlin's farm, purchased in the summer of 1792, encompassed the land that fronted the entire south side of the Square.
Thirty-six year old Catlin was one of the county's most prominent lawyers. Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, Catlin, after serving in the Revolutionary War, returned to Litchfield to study law. Then he moved to Wilkes-Barre in 1789 (age 25) to begin his practice and married Mary "Polly" Sutton, a daughter of early settlers of Wyoming. Due to failing health Catlin and his family, including his sixty-six year old father Eli Catlin, moved from Wilkes-Barre about 1800 to a farm in Windsor, Broome county, N. Y.
Four year old son George was to become the highly acclaimed frontier artist.
John Hollenback's Estate
John Hollenback was Matthias Hollenback's brother who died in 1797 at age 42 leaving his widow Elizabeth and a number of children including sons John and Matthias who remained in Wilkes-Barre for a time. John, Jr. was employed by his uncle Matthias learning the art of trade.
Hollenback's property of which brother Matthias was part owner fronted the entire west side of the Square. After his death sons Matthias and John Jr. became part owners.
