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Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Ind. Courts - "Donors wanted for $500,000 decorative Randolph County Courthouse roof"

Joy Leiker reports today in the Muncie Star-Press about the Randolph County Courthouse, until recently slated for demolition. Some quotes:

WINCHESTER — More than 50 years ago, the clock tower and decorative mansard roof were ripped off the top of the Randolph County Courthouse.

To some, it was one of the biggest mistakes of the century, a mistake preservationists didn’t want repeated with the demolition of the entire building.

The courthouse now is safe, and plans for renovations and an expansion are ongoing. With two historic-minded members leading the board of county commissioners, Randolph County now might be on its way to correcting the roof destruction that took place in 1954.

On Monday, commissioners took their first look at two drawings of replacement decorative roofs. One is a bit more detailed than the other, but both feature mansard roofs and a tall clock to be built on top of the tower, which will hold a new elevator.

And though Commissioners Dave Lenkensdofer and Kathy Beumer both expressed their delight with the drawings, that doesn’t change the fact the county has no intention of paying for the roof and clock tower. (The third member of the commission, Ron Chalfant, was absent Monday.) * * *

A committee of residents — including many who spearheaded the popular nearly naked Courthouse Girls calendars of 2006 and 2007 — is working to raise money to pay for the decorative elements. Larry Francer of Farmland, the man who led the calendar effort, asked commissioners Monday for permission to hold a fund-raiser later this month in the former county home.

Ron Ross, of the engineering and architectural firm Martin Riley, estimated those roof details would cost about $500,000.

That price is on top of the $7 million estimate for the rest of the work at the courthouse, which includes a two-story annex to be built on the south side of the existing building.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 2, 2007 07:28 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts