Washington County is named for George Washington, who was the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Essex County
E – Addison County, Vermont, Rutland County, Vermont and Bennington County, Vermont
S – Resselaer County
W – Saratoga County and Warren County
Created: March 12, 1772
County Seat:
Salem 1792 – 1993
Hudson Falls 1873 – 1993 (second county seat)
Fort Edward 1993 – present
County Courthouse – Fort Edward
Location: 383 Upper Broadway / Schuyler Street
Built: 1959 – 1961
Style: Modern
Architect: Milton Lee Crandell
Contractor: Sweet Association Inc.
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Fort Edward. The east entrance is recessed with a peaked brick section above. Behind is a glass section rising to a peak. The north section has white vertical trim and wide bands along the flat roof line. The windows are in horizontal sections.
.
See: The 4th Judicial District is located at 101 State Farm Place in Malta and includes Clinton County, Essex County, Franklin County, Fulton County, Hamilton County, Montgomery County, Saint Lawrence County, Saratoga County, Schenectady County and Warren County.
County Administration Building – Fort Edward
Location: 383 Upper Broadway / Schuyler Street
Built: 1959 – 1961
Style: Modern
Architect: Milton Lee Crandell
Contractor: Sweet Association Inc.
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Fort Edward. The east entrance is recessed with a peaked brick section above. Behind is a glass section rising to a peak. The north section has white vertical trim and wide bands along the flat roof line. The windows are in horizontal sections.
Old County Courthouse – Hudson Falls
Location: 122 Main Street / Maple Street
Built: 1873 – 1874
Style: French Renaissance
Architect: Marcus Cummings of Troy
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick structure. The west front has a small portico at the entrance. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Hudson Falls. The windows are arched. There is a mansard roof. The building served as a courthouse until 1993. The building is now the La Cocina Restaurant.
Old County Courthouse – Salem
Location: 58 East Broadway / Cato Street
Built: 1869 – 1870
Style: French Renaissance
Architect: Marcus Cummings of Troy
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces west and is a two story cream colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Salem. The west front has a one story porch supported by four pillars with recessed arched entrance. The windows are arched. The hipped roof has a dormer on the west side. The large courtroom is located on the second story. The building served as the second shire courthouse until 1993. The building is now the Historic Salem Courthouse Community Center. Attached on the east side, is the old jail designed by William J Beardsley in 1906.
History: The county was created in 1772 as Charlotte County and was changed to Washington County in 1784. Salem was selected as the county seat in 1792. The first courthouse was a wood structure built in 1792 to 1796. The second courthouse was constructed in 1869 to 1870 at a cost of $30,000 and is still standing. The building served until 1993. In 1873, Hudson Falls ( Sandy Hill ) become the second county seat. The first courthouse was constructed in 1873 to 1874 and is still standing. The building served until 1993. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1959 to 1961 in Fort Edward. In 1993 the county seat was moved to Fort Edward.
County Courthouse – Fort Edward
County Administration Building – Fort Edward
Old County Courthouse – Hudson Falls
Old County Courthouse – Salem
Former courtroom
Photos taken 2010 and 2017
Images 26