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Will the ceiling art be saved?
Passionate pleas were presented to the Fayette County Commissioners Tuesday for time to find funding to restore artwork in the Circuit Courtroom rather than proceeding with renovations.
Last month during renovation of the courtroom in the Fayette County Courthouse, elaborate artwork was uncovered on the ceiling under layers of paint. The county commissioners have said no tax dollars will be used to restore the artwork, a cost estimated at $120,000, and time is of the essence so as not to delay the renovation of the courthouse resulting in additional costs.
Leonard Urban, representing the Fayette County Tourism Board, said the board was willing to contribute financially to the restoration because a restored courtroom ceiling would be a tourist attraction.
Representing Historic Connersville Inc., Paulette Hayes also asked for time.
“This is our heritage,” she told the commissioners. “Imagine how proud our ancestors must have been when they were approached to add those beautiful paintings to the remodeling over a century ago. I’m sure money was a huge factor then just as it is today. Consider all the excitement the uncovering of them has caused in our town today. Let’s give the next century that same overwhelming sense of pride.”
Retired optometrist Dr. Donald MacDaniel said many courthouses had stencils on walls but the courtroom ceiling is more than that.
“This is where craftsmanship became art, the Fayette Circuit Courtroom is a work of art,” he said.
He asked for time so the artwork can be restored and saved for future generations.
Grant funding is available but it will take time to apply and for awarding of grants, according to Grant Administrator Jolissa Bates.
She asked that plywood be placed on the floor of the attic to prevent plaster being knocked off the ceiling of the courtroom below while work was being done in the attic. She also asked permission to have scaffolding placed in the courtroom so that art conservation expert Elizabeth Kendall of Chicago could examine the work closely.
The commissioners approved the requests.
“We’ll deal with the construction people on time and how we can do this, if it takes six months or eight months,” said Russ Sidell, president of the commissioners. “That may be a room that does not get finished and if it is, so be it. We can use the courthouse except that courtroom.”
Renovation Architect Dean Illingworth said it may be possible to work on other projects in the courtroom and not complete the ceiling until funding is available.
Anna Dungan, director of the Fayette County Foundation, said there have been several inquiries as to how to donate to the restoration.
She said the Foundation board of directors would meet next week to consider becoming a pass-through agent where people can donate to the restoration work through the Foundation.
It took a year to complete the fund drive to restore the murals in the Connersville Middle School Auditorium so it will not be quick, she added. |