State History

This article originally appeared on the Daily Gazette website.
This article was written by Bob Cudmore.

Located at 223 West Main St. in Johnstown, the Fulton County Courthouse was built in 1772 when New York state was still a British colony.

The building is the oldest existing courthouse in the state and one of the oldest buildings in the nation still in use as a courthouse.

Robert P. Best worked in the historic structure as a state Supreme Court Justice for 15 years, Fulton County Judge for 10 years and district attorney. 

Best was previously mayor of Gloversville and before that a law clerk to his uncle Willard Best, who was also a Fulton County judge.

Robert Best, a Pennsylvania native and U.S. Navy veteran, retired in 2006 and lives in Florida. He has been writing a booklet on the history of the Johnstown courthouse. It’s hoped that the booklet will be published in February. Read more...