Broome County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Broome County's courthouse in Binghamton is a two-and-one-half-story Ohio sandstone building crowned by a copper dome. Designed by Isaac G. Perry and built in 1897-98 by Miles Leonard for $130,000, it replaced an 1856 courthouse that burned in 1896, and it reuses part of that building's foundation. A south wing added in 1916-17 by the Schaefer Construction Company turned the original T-shaped plan into a Latin cross. The north front has an Ionic portico with solid stone columns and a pediment bearing the county seal in relief. The dome carries four clock faces, one a gift of Harvey Westcott, and is topped by a statue. Perry also designed the Phelps Mansion and worked on the New York State Capitol's Million Dollar Staircase. The courthouse is regarded as a regional landmark for its classical design and its stone and copper work. It has served as the county seat for over seventy-five years and remains in government use.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a regional landmark noted for classical design and for fine stone and copper workmanship typical of the close of the 19th century. It is the fourth county courthouse built in the 19th century and the third on the site. It is the focal point of local government, with a new governmental complex emerging to its south.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001164, listed May 22, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Court St., Binghamton |
|---|---|
| County | Broome County |
| Listed | May 22, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001164 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897-98 |
| Architect / builder | Isaac G. Perry (architect); Miles Leonard (builder, 1897-98); Schaefer Construction Company (1916-17 addition) |
| Architectural style | Classical design (Ionic portico, copper dome) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, occupied and in use as the seat of county government; the form says it continues as a functional part of County government. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Within district | Court Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.09803, -75.91120 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001164.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4975272
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.