The Salisbury Courthouse in Centerville Indiana

Discover the fascinating history of the Salisbury Courthouse in Centerville, Indiana, and the intense battle over the Wayne County Seat. Learn how Centerville ‘stole’ the seat from Salisbury and later lost it to Richmond in a dramatic showdown involving a cannon named ‘Black Betty’! Visit http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com for more Indiana history and tourism info, and check out the author’s books, including ‘East Central Indiana Day Trips
From the Book
East Central Indiana Day Trips

Transcript:

Salisbury
Salisbury was created, and incorporated, in 1811 to serve as the county seat of Wayne County. A log courthouse, jail and a few other buildings were constructed by William Commons. This log courthouse served the county for about 4 years before Salisbury residents constructed a brick courthouse in 1816.
Battle for the County Seat
The location of the county seat was sought after by residents of Indiana while the state was developing. Most residents of a county had to visit the county seat at least once per year to pay property taxes. It was also necessary to visit the county seat, as the center of government for the county, to obtain marriage licenses, record land sales and purchases and other legal business. Thus, land values in county seats tended to be higher, businesses had more traffic and roads tended to be better. Intense conflicts were fought as residents fought to obtain the seat of county government.
Nearby Centerville coveted the prestige that came with having the county seat. They sought to steal the seat from Salisbury by constructing their own courthouse. The two courthouses were completed at about the same time. The state legislature told Centerville officials that if their courthouse was better than the one at Salisbury, they would move the county seat to Centerville. After the courthouses were complete, state officials visited Centerville to see the new courthouse, then traveled to Salisbury to see that one. Salisbury residents knew the one in Centerville was better, so they refused to let the inspectors inside. The officials decided on a novel way to decide which was better. They counted the bricks in the Salisbury courthouse then they repeated the process at Centerville. Since the Centerville courthouse had more bricks, they figured that it must be the better structure. So, the legislature voted to move the seat to Centerville. Legal battles by Salisbury residents continued until 1820. Over time, businesses and residents left Salisbury and now it is just a deserted town in the Indiana countryside.
Another War for the County Seat Results in Cannon Fire
Richmond, Indiana, located on the east side of Wayne County, had grown and by 1870 and exceeded Centerville’s population. Rail lines connected Richmond with cities across Indiana and the Midwest. The economic advantage had shifted to Richmond, though it was not near the center of the county. More Wayne County residents lived nearer Richmond than Centerville. County official determined it advantageous to move the seat to Richmond. This determination by Richmond led Centerville residents to resist the move.
New Jail and a Fence
In 1867, Centerville officials had approved a new county jail. The jail would cost over $80,000. Richmond residents felt this was a ploy to keep the seat in Centerville. To top it off, Centerville officials had an expensive iron fence constructed around the town square. More improvements to the courthouse in Centerville were requested. Richmond residents fear that if too much money was invested in Centerville the seat would remain there. Since there was a need for a new courthouse, the issue had to be settled. Centerville officials went to court to prevent any move to Richmond.
At the Ballot Box
Richmond officials scheduled a county wide vote to settle the issue. If more than 55% of voters voted to move the seat to Richmond, the seat would move. The required number did approve, so in 1872 the commissioners accepted a deed for property in Richmond on which to build the courthouse. In March, a judge approved the move and construction began in Richmond.
A Cannonade
On October 27, 1873, Richmond officials, under guard, went to the Centerville Court house to get the records, and entered the structure. A mob surrounded the courthouse, bolstered by a cannon named “Black Betty.” After Richmond officials refused to leave the courthouse as per demands by the mob, they set off the cannon, loaded with iron scraps, and blew the door down. The mob removed the guards and the officials. The next day Richmond officials returned, with a military escort, and moved the records.
Holes Still Remain
The Centerville Court House now serves as the Centerville Library. Visitors can still see the holes in the brick wall above the library door from the blast by “Black Betty.”

Salisbury Courthouse
The original log court house of Wayne County and the only such structure left in the old Northwest Territory. The court house was disassembled and reconstructed at Centerville. It is now a museum, open by appointment only.
Salisbury Courthouse
214 E. Main Street
Centerville , IN 47330
By appointment only
http://visitrichmond.org/listing/salisbury-courthouse

The episode is based upon my book, East Central Indiana Day Trips, available on the web site, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. The book is the fifth book in the 9 volume Road Trip Indiana Series. The books include all the historical markers, as of 2022, in Indiana with the text and back story. The books also include a nearly complete listing of virtually every tourism destination in the state. The destinations include parks, museums, drive in theaters, bowling alleys, wineries and much, much more. Much of the book is also based on one of my other books, A Short History of Basketball – Indiana Edition. I encourage you to visit the web site and subscribe to it. If you like what I am doing, please purchase a book, as it helps fund my work.
You can find my books locally at the at the Romweber Marketplace in downtown Batesville, Indiana.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast and thank you for listening.