Roberts Family Helps Complete Courthouse Renovation With Bluestone Donation

The plaque dedicated to Joe and Jeannette Roberts after being unveiled. Louis Gauthier Photo

By Louis Gauthier

MONTROSE — A ceremony on Oct. 15 honored local couple Joe and Jeannette Roberts, co-owners of Roberts Stone LLC, for their substantial donation of Pennsylvania bluestone used to finish the renovation of the front entrance of the Susquehanna County Courthouse. Their contribution of locally quarried stone made it possible for the renovation to be completed and saved the county significant costs. A picturesque autumn afternoon provided the perfect backdrop as county officials and community members gathered on the courthouse steps to unveil a plaque on the building’s front entrance recognizing the Roberts family for their donation.

Joe Roberts said their gift was inspired by a desire to give back to the community.

“We care about this community and the people in it,” he said. “The good Lord blessed us with a solid business that my wife and I built.”

Jeanette Roberts agreed with her husband. “We’re glad to do this,” she said.

Commissioner Chairman Alan Hall said the donation shows that “people can and want to be a helping partner,” for projects like this. 

The plaque unveiling marked the completion of a near-total renovation of the courthouse, which Hall said actually began in 2012. Hall said the project included a complete refurbishment of the building’s electrical and heating systems, interior spaces and significant restoration of the building exterior, roof, clock tower, dome and front columns. The newly completed entrance steps represent the final capstone of the renovation journey. 

After the ceremony, Joe Roberts described how the bluestone had to be sawed multiple times and treated to achieve the proper appearance for the space. Commissioner Vice-Chair David Darrow explained that the front steps project encountered some unforeseen challenges.

“Like when you do projects around your house, you find problems,” Darrow said, describing how it was found that the original steps were constructed without a proper foundation.

Susquehanna County Communications Specialist Staci Wilson said construction crews unearthed a time capsule from 1906 during the front steps project, and that the county buried a new one under the steps earlier this year during the final phase of the renovation.

“We wanted the courthouse to look good,” Darrow said, pointing out how prominent the building’s facade is in the town and noting how all the parades – including Memorial Day, 4th of July and Christmas – held in Montrose all end at the courthouse entrance. Darrow also praised the Roberts family’s contribution, calling it a reflection of community spirit and noting that the locally quarried stone is emblematic of the region.

Originally erected in 1854, the Greek Revival-style Susquehanna County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Long serving as an anchor of civic life in Montrose, the courthouse’s use of Pennsylvania bluestone – known for its strength, durability, and beauty – reflects both the heritage of the building and the character of the Susquehanna County community.

Left to Right: Robert McNamara (County Commissioner), David Darrow (County Commissioner Vice-Chair), Joe Roberts, Jeanette Roberts, and Alan Hall (County Commissioner Chairman) stand beside the newly unveiled plaque. Louis Gauthier Photo