The Center of Perry County Government

The Center of Perry County Government. Perry County Bicentennial. , Since 1825, Perry County has constructed numerous buildings for judicial and legal services. The most prominent is the County Court House, the oldest in Pennsylvania and, since 1975, on the National Register of Historic Places., After World War II, the population of Perry County rapidly increased thus requiring even more space for public spaces. In 1975, the county constructed a $1 million three-story annex adjacent to the Court House., Dr. Jonas Ickes acquired the Rhinesmith building, then known as the Pery House, soon after it was constructed in 1826 by John D. Creigh. The New Bloomfield Academy held its first classes in a second-floor, back room in 1837., After several owners, D.M. Rhinesmith ran the hotel room from 1889 until 1895 when his son, Harry B. Rhinesmith took over. After World War II, ownership passed to other proprietors who operated the aging facility as offices, including those of the State Police. The county bought the building in 1973, and remodeled it in 1986 for $415,833, creating a modern office complex for government services., The Veterans' Memorial Building on West Main Street was constructed in 1993 to house the county commissioners' offices and other vital services., John Rice constructed the first county jail in 1825, a stone facility with walls 2 ½ feet thick, for $2,625. In 1903, a second jail was built for $30,000 on the same site on McClure Street. This facility became offices in 1990 after the opening of the latest county prison, located south of town., The only criminal execution in Perry County occurred in 1861 when the sheriff pulled the lever to hang William Weaver, convicted of poisoning his wife and mother of his eight children.