Cambria County Courthouse

 courthouse, historical building

As the county seat of Cambria County, Ebensburg's skyline is graced by this Victorian Second Empire structure which serves as the center of government for the county. It was built in 1882 and is visible from the highway when driving west on route 22.

The Courthouse (1923). The first courthouse was built in 1808 with the ground floor serving as the jail. A new courthouse was built in 1830 at the current site and subsequently demolished for the present building. The center section was built around 1880; however, in the early 1920s the structure was completely rebuilt with left, right, and rear wings added, so it is best dated to this period. Restoration work was done in the 1990's, including the elaborate double ramp at the front for the disabled.

There are no attached additions or annexes, probably because the population of the county has remained static. It also lacks a tower removed during the rebuilding; the bell sits in front of the entrance . The appearance of the tower can be seen in this view of the courthouse before rebuilding from the 1890 county atlas. The structure is brick and stone in the French Second Empire style and notable for the extensive stone trim for story separation, window decoration, and quoins at the corners.

This courthouse is especially impressive when viewed approaching Ebensburg from the east on Route 22, looming up atop the hill like a medieval fortress over a village. And speaking of fortresses, the old county jail , circa 1870s, sits two blocks away and is now the county archives building.

www.mapsofpa.com/countyseatsb.htm
www.co.cambria.pa.us/Courts/Pages/default.aspx

200 South Center Street
Ebensburg, PA 15931