Dauphin County Courthouse Cornerstone Removal

On June 3, 1948, workmen removed the cornerstone of the Dauphin County Courthouse during its demolition. When the cornerstone was laid on August 7, 1860, a metal box was placed inside that contained several articles: a copy of the city charter, a copy of the annals of Harrisburg, copies of all newspapers published in Dauphin County in the year 1860, a copy of the specifications and the contract for building the courthouse, a specimen of a newly invented powder, a lot of postage stamps, a copy the "Rules of Court" of the Supreme Court and of Dauphin and Lebanon counties, a copy of the Bible, a collection of business cards, a bottle with samples of ground seed, corn barley, oats and red Mediterranean wheat, parchments containing names of officers of state and city government, judges of the court, members of the bar, county officers, prison inspectors and keepers, and names of contractors and builders of the courthouse. The box and its contents were badly deteriorated. Photo ID: F05603-3.