Old Union County Courthouse in New Berlin Now Heritage Museum, Post Office

At the corner of Market and Vine Streets in New Berlin, Jim Lengle and John Showers point to the second-floor room that now houses the New Berlin Heritage Museum, while the first floor continues to operate as the New Berlin Post Office. The building, variously dated in source material as built in 1815 or during 1814–1815, served as Union County’s courthouse after the county seat moved to New Berlin in 1815 and today anchors the borough’s small civic square.

The courthouse’s early role follows county formation: “The county was created in 1813 and Mifflinburg was selected as the county seat. The county seat was moved to New Berlin in 1815 and the first courthouse, a two story brick structure, was built. The county seat was moved to Lewisburg in 1855,” according to courthouse listings that track Union County’s seat timeline. After 1855 the county seat shifted to Lewisburg and a second courthouse was constructed there during 1855 to 1857.

Architectural records describe the New Berlin building in precise terms: “The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is three bays wide and four bays deep with a gable roof. The roof features a center cupola. The building was renovated in 1855 to 1857 and was converted to a schoolhouse until 1952.” That mid-19th-century renovation required gutting the interior and altered the tower: “After the county seat moved to Lewisburg, the courthouse was renovated into an elementary school, a process that required gutting the interior and replacing the Georgian cupola with a bulky bracketed Italianate tower,” an architectural summary states.

Following decades as a schoolhouse, local preservation work returned the building to civic use. The Union County Historical Society, according to architectural records, “has restored the courthouse and the building serves as the post office and home of the Courthouse Museum.” The museum is maintained by the New Berlin Heritage Association and, per the Borough of New Berlin, “contains artifacts and treasures, photos and print materials from many generations.”

Practical visitor information is limited but specific: Whichmuseum lists the address as 220 Vine St, New Berlin, and states “No admission charges.” Whichmuseum also notes, “Visitors can explore the museum by appointment or during the annual New Berlin Day, a street festival held at the end of August each year.” The borough website repeats that schedule, saying, “The museum is open on New Berlin Day or by contacting Logan Roush 570-217-4336.” Whichmuseum additionally reports the entry has one aggregated rating and places the site among its lists as #57 Free museums in Pennsylvania, #120 History & Anthropology in Pennsylvania and #101 Historic houses in Pennsylvania, while also noting it lacks published opening hours and facility details.

Members of the New Berlin Heritage Association describe the original courthouse and jail complex as one of the community’s “best-kept secrets” and say they hope to change that through New Berlin Day outreach and by arranging visits by appointment. For appointments or to confirm access, call Logan Roush at 570-217-4336; for municipal inquiries contact the Borough of New Berlin at 700 Water Street, P.O. Box 330, New Berlin PA 17855-0330, phone (570) 966-4705, fax (570) 966-4706, email office@newberlinpa.us.