The Historic Salem Courthouse Preservation Association. Inc. (HSCPA) was chartered in January 2002 as a not-for-profit organization to preserve the Old Washington County Courthouse as a community center and to improve and manage the properties for arts, youth, cultural, and economic development programs for the region.  As it became clear in 2001 that Washington County was going to abandon the Courthouse complex, Bill Eberle called a meeting of concerned citizens to discuss the economic impact upon the area and the future of the county property.  A series of meetings led to a community "brainstorming session" about potential uses of the property for the betterment of the region.  When the prisoners left the old Washington County Jail in May 2003, HSCPA was ready to facilitate the transfer of the courthouse complex from the county to the Town of Salem.  The transfer was finalized in January 2004.

HSCPA partners with the Town and Village of Salem in managing the Courthouse property and in seeking grants to fund restoration and arts projects. Grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation League of New York State funded studies which described sound existing conditions for the 1869 Courthouse designed by renowned architect Marcus Cummings.  An Architectural, Planning and Design Study, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, will provide the groundwork for a final architectural rendering. Currently, one of the biggest challenges is to make renovations that will conform to building codes and allow larger numbers in the courtroom that offers excellent acoustics and can accommodate more than 350 for concerts, theater productions, and community meetings.  Recent installation of the restored original front doors was the first step in addressing this problem.  Restoration of the central hallway and staircases, funded by a legislative grant initiated by Senator Little, will be the next step.

Meanwhile, approximately eighty volunteers are having a great time producing many activities for the area: the Courthouse is a center for programs such as the Pottery Studio, Salem Footlighters, Battenkill Community Kitchen, Town and Village Archives, Thrift Shop, and community events including the popular Al Fresco Dinner with a sell-out crowd of 350.  During the past year more than 450 members showed their support for this major endeavor of developing a vibrant community center.