Old Union County Courthouse
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Why it's listed
Built in 1815 on a corner lot at Market and Vine streets in New Berlin, this two and a half story brick building was the Union County courthouse. The parcel was bought from Christopher Seebold for sixty-seven cents, and the courts and county offices moved to New Berlin in May 1815. The building was constructed in a classical style typical of the period and anchored the young county's government. When Snyder County was formed in 1855, the county seat moved to Lewisburg, and the building became a school for nearly a century, until about 1952. Alterations during the school years included a Victorian-era addition on the south side, new window pediments, and a rebuilt cupola of about 1857 to 1865. It is significant for its association with early county government and for its Federal-period brickwork and frame. It was later used as a factory warehouse and has deteriorated.
Significance in brief: The building served as the seat of county government after Union County was created in 1813 and New Berlin was designated the seat. It was later used as a school for nearly a century and is noted for its Federal-period origins and its role in the county's early development.
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 72001179, listed November 9, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Market and Vine Sts., New Berlin |
|---|---|
| County | Union County |
| Listed | November 9, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001179 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1815 |
| Architectural style | Classical style typical of the period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deteriorated; used in more recent years as a factory warehouse; community members are seeking to restore and reuse it |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.87861, -76.98639 (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 72001179.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7085349
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.