January 7, 1812 the first court trial in the newly built County Court House in Martinsburg, Lewis County, New York was held.

Lewis County was established in 1805 when it separated from Oneida County.   County and local business had been conducted in the Chillus Doty’s Tavern (log cabin until the brick building was built, which still stands today on the north end of town) before the building of the Court House.

We have searched and are unable to find the original hearing, BUT the Martinsburg Historical Society and the Town of Martinsburg are holding and Open House on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 from 1pm to 3pm, to celebrate the event.

Martinsburg Historical Society and the Town Board, will have a mock trial of that period with Judge Merrill presiding.   We know the Merrill family has practiced law in Lewis County for several generations.  Eliadas Merrill, Great –Great- Grandfather to Charles Merrill started his practice in Lewis County in 1846.  Eliadas Merrill became District Attorney and then Judge for Lewis County, in the 1850’s.

We have noted lawyers Kevin McArdle and Keith Lyndecker playing the parts of prosecutor and defense attorney. The Martinsburg Town Board as members are the jury.

There is a great deal of Lewis County history in the old court house.  It has had many uses over the years.  When Walter Martin donated the land and building he made a stipulation that if it stopped being a County Court House it was to be returned to his family and in 1864 when the court was moved to Lowville, Charles Martin turned it into a school for young men.  Martin Institute ran from 1870 closing in 1891.  After the institute closed the family sold it back to the town, Charles donated his share. It also was used as the local school district #2 when the local school building burned.  The court house has been used for several years as the Town Hall and Town Court.   The building also has been used by the United Methodist Church and Presbyterian Church for dinners and for community events.   The new Town Offices will be opening soon on Cemetery Rd. This building will continue to be a part of our community.

A model of the type of jail cells of that era will be on display. There were 3 cells on the south wall.  It had a wood floor but under the floor were rocks and no space to crawl out.  The other half of the first floor was rooms for the jailer and his family.  I’m not sure when the out-houses were added to the building but in the early 1800’s they would have been separate and the prisoners would have had a slop bucket and a solid hard rack to lay on, nothing fancy.

There is no heat on the second floor but if you wish to brave the cold you may visit the second floor and see the stage backdrops.  There were many nights of entertainment, plays, dances and good times had.  The court was held on the second floor until the jail was built onto the bank building next door, then court was held on the first floor.

For more information call Nelson @ 315-376- 2792 or Sue @ 315-376-0156.