Hello Folks: I've been reading the posts about the Franklin County Courthouse Records being destroyed. This is a falsehood. The local governments knew the movings of the Confederate Army and were well aware of them coming into Chambersburg and so made arrangements to have all of the records moved out of the courthouse and into safe-keeping elsewhere. If it were true that all or most of the records were destroyed, then why are (or were) there original Tax Books dating back to the first year that the county was formed in the basement? These original tax books and records are not found at the PA State Archives and must be accessed at the courthouse - at least they were in the damp basement back about 7-8 years ago. I have also utilized the early Wills, Deeds and other various records there at the courthouse at various times - all dating back to the date of organization for the county. As per someone doing something with them.... they may have been taking them to scan digitally, as many courthouses are doing this to cut down on space. I know The Perry Historians (a genealogical library near New Bloomfield, Perry Co.) were given the original books from the Perry County Courthouse to hold and care-for.... after they were sent out to be scanned and put on a computer program for use at the courthouse. Every-now-and-then someone from the courthouse makes a visit to the Perry Historians to get copies of pages that were missed during scanning... so I hope that the original books and records were not destroyed after the scanning process... if this did take place. Donna Heller Zinn of Newville, Cumberland Co., PA.

Donna, I actually had an admission when I was up there that the "records burned" excuse was used, whether it was true or not. Sometimes they don't *know* what still exists or where it is, especially older less-used/more obscure records, so the "records burned" makes a dandy excuse, as it makes the genealogist give up and go away and leave them alone. Time will tell and if they're digitizing stuff, sooner or later, if "burned" records emerge, we'll hear about them. If they never emerge when all is done, well then, maybe they *did* burn! Records DO show up unexpectedly. Several years back, the missing death records for Allegheny County (1893-1905) were found in the courthouse. Prior to that, they only had records for those years for people who left wills. The local society quickly made an index of these records and I sent for two records of direct ancestors. Got both. On one, I hit the jackpot, it gave exact place of birth in Germany. Prior to that, I only had "Prussia," frustratingly vague. So I know that often, there are records stashed away about which the overworked staffs don't know. I keep hoping that some of the missing 1776 census records for Washington County/Frederick County, MD will appear some day. Bonz -----Original Message----- From: pafrankl-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:pafrankl-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Donna Heller Zinn Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 8:43 AM To: PAFRANKL@rootsweb.com Subject: [PAFRANKL] Franklin County Courthouse Records Hello Folks: I've been reading the posts about the Franklin County Courthouse Records being destroyed. This is a falsehood. The local governments knew the movings of the Confederate Army and were well aware of them coming into Chambersburg and so made arrangements to have all of the records moved out of the courthouse and into safe-keeping elsewhere. If it were true that all or most of the records were destroyed, then why are (or were) there original Tax Books dating back to the first year that the county was formed in the basement? These original tax books and records are not found at the PA State Archives and must be accessed at the courthouse - at least they were in the damp basement back about 7-8 years ago. I have also utilized the early Wills, Deeds and other various records there at the courthouse at various times - all dating back to the date of organization for the county. As per someone doing something with them.... they may have been taking them to scan digitally, as many courthouses are doing this to cut down on space. I know The Perry Historians (a genealogical library near New Bloomfield, Perry Co.) were given the original books from the Perry County Courthouse to hold and care-for.... after they were sent out to be scanned and put on a computer program for use at the courthouse. Every-now-and-then someone from the courthouse makes a visit to the Perry Historians to get copies of pages that were missed during scanning... so I hope that the original books and records were not destroyed after the scanning process... if this did take place. Donna Heller Zinn of Newville, Cumberland Co., PA.