HANCOCK COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Court sessions were first held in Samuel Allison’s building in New Manchester.  Later, court was held in a schoolhouse until a courthouse was completed about 1850.  New Manchester served as the county seat for over three decades.  Then a controversy arose between the towns of New Manchester and New Cumberland with each town wanting the county seat.  Several elections were held to determine its location.  The progressive river town of New Cumberland won.
The present courthouse is a two-story stone structure.  Its entrance is in the center of the building and Corinthian columns support a gabled roof.  An annex was built adjacent to this structure (pictured on this page).