History Constitution Square Historic Site

a replica of district courthouse

the virginia general assembly created judicial district of kentucky in 1783. harrodsburg designated district s first seat of justice, because of inadequate facilities in harrodsburg, supreme court district of kentucky moved next session crow s station , ordered construction of courthouse there. courthouse built on constitution square in march 1785, , court convened there regularly until dissolution when kentucky gained statehood in 1792.

the square fell disuse after district court disbanded, and, in 1817, city s trustees sold half of city square raise money establishment of educational institution known danville academy. money used buy @ least 1 acre (0.0040 km) of land within 0.5 miles (0.80 km) of square on locate academy. on february 13, 1818, trustees voted sell other half of square , allocate money same purpose. there no record danville academy ever established, however; advocates of academy s establishment apparently combined efforts of individuals established centre college in danville, , funds had been designated founding of danville academy re-allocated centre.

danville s trustees voted give free use of courthouse in square group of freemasons in 1817. trustees sold portion of square near main street construction of private residences in 1823, , freemasons purchased courthouse , land occupied in 1828. group of methodists purchased land freemasons in 1834, , subsequently sold reverend adams following year. adams purchased 2 adjacent plots , founded all-female academy failed. in 1854, danville theological seminary moved campus of centre college constitution square, occupying many of buildings there. brick courthouse became main building of seminary, , during civil war, used hospital treat wounded soldiers – both union , confederate – in aftermath of battle of perryville. danville theological seminary remained in operation until 1878. after closure, main building deteriorated , razed.

creation of park

on october 15, 1937, danville resident emma weisiger donated land comprises constitution square historic site commonwealth of kentucky in memory of brother, john. state made land state park; called old public square, constitutional square. using combination of state , local funds, danville chamber of commerce , local chapter of american legion began constructing replicas of jail, courthouse, , meetinghouse occupied square. @ time of park s dedication on april 20, 1942, dubbed john g. weisiger memorial state park. later, name changed constitution square state shrine. @ time of dedication ceremony, non-essential construction projects in u.s. had been halted war production board due country s entry world war ii, , renovations park s attractions had consequently ceased. dedication speeches governor keen johnson , centre college president robert l. mcleod, jr. contained reminders of ongoing war , praise ideals of democracy. in addition, plaque honoring framers of first kentucky constitution dedicated louisville judge lafon allen , unveiled johnson s daughter, judith, , louise mcdowell, descendent of judge samuel mcdowell, presided on ten constitutional conventions took place in original constitution square courthouse.

after war ended defeat of japan in 1945, ban on nonessential construction lifted, , state restarted construction , restoration activities in constitution square in 1948. these activities included restoring , re-roofing buildings, adding furniture buildings, constructing walkways, erecting signs, , adding landscaping park. restorations completed in 1955. 1960 1968, state added fence around site, installed new lighting , diorama system, constructed replica of square s original pillory, , renovated several buildings, including 19th-century brick schoolhouse became caretaker s residence.

the governor s circle added site in 1970s.

in 1970s, centre college president thomas a. spragens began series of urban renewal projects in danville using grants u.s. department of housing , urban development. 1 such project expansion of constitution square , restoration of of key features. part of first street closed accommodate expansion, , african-american business district, lay on constitution square facing ephraim mcdowell house, razed. grayson s tavern, fisher s row houses, goldsmith house, , brick schoolhouse renovated, , governor s circle added site. bronze statue depicting 2 men shaking hands, symbol taken state seal, stands in middle of governor s circle. plaques honor each governor of state encircle statue. entirety of governor s circle honors isaac shelby, kentucky s first , fifth governor. shelby believed responsible kentucky s adoption of motto united stand, divided fall , appears on state seal. landscaping around circle maintained garden club of danville.

in june 2011, kentucky department of parks began discussions boyle county officials concerning possibility of transferring control of constitution square county government, , transfer completed march 6, 2012. in interim, county received $500,000 grant department of housing , urban development renovate many of site s properties, turning constitution square economic hub area. improvements site include making first floors of buildings compliant americans disabilities act of 1990, upgrading electrical , phone systems in many of buildings, , installing wireless network turn entire site wi-fi hotspot. grant required archeological study of area completed prior beginning these improvements; commencement of study delayed due vice-presidential debate hosted @ nearby centre college in october 2012.

in february 2013, kentucky historical society erected historical marker in park commemorate first african-americans enlist in union army during civil war. in may 1864, group of 250 men – slaves, including freedmen – marched danville camp nelson in jessamine county, colonel andrew clark permitted them enlist after initial hesitation.

on september 10, 2013, boyle county fiscal court voted endow $100,000 louisville-based wilderness trace community foundation maintenance of park. fiscal court receives 4% of endowment annually spend on park maintenance.