I recently visited the town of Easton, Maryland, on a day trip. Here, situated on a quintessential main street, the Talbot County courthouse offers visitors a place to sit and take in the beautiful courtyard, as well as some rich history. Today, the courthouse, originally built in 1794, not only houses the chambers and courtrooms for the judge of the Circuit Court for Talbot County, but also the clerk’s offices, jurors’ assembly room, master’s office, and the offices of the Talbot County Council.
In 1836, the site of the courthouse also housed abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Following an attempt for freedom, Douglass was jailed for one week before being released back to Baltimore. The jail was situated at the back of the courthouse. Today, a statue of Frederick Douglass sits on the courthouse lawn.
