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DARRELL SMITH / News-Examiner |
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Ornate paintings uncovered during courthouse work
In the season of trick or treat, workers stripping old
paint in the Fayette
Circuit Courtroom discovered a treat during the
courthouse renovation the past two weeks.
Ornate paintings uncovered during courthouse work
In the season of trick or treat, workers stripping old paint in the Fayette Circuit Courtroom discovered a treat during the courthouse renovation the past two weeks.
Construction Administrator Jim Hooker showed the County Commissioner pictures of some of the uncovered historical artwork during Tuesday’s meeting.
He said the architects were aware of historical paintings on the walls of the courtroom and in the hallways but no one had any idea of artwork under the old paint in the courtroom. As the paint was chipped away, the workers uncovered some ornate paintings so they continued chipping, he said.
The historic artwork was painted over with white paint at some point previously. The ceiling has been hidden above a dropped ceiling installed during a renovation in the 1960s, he said.
Currently, the painting of a woman representing agriculture complete with a plow, hand scythe, wheat and more has been uncovered on the east end of the ceiling. Hooker said the architects from Schmidt Associates in Indianapolis believe there is similar type artwork on the west end of the courtroom.
“I understand your problem so we’re pursuing avenues for funding to save the artwork,” he told the commissioners.
Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pflum said the application has been submitted to include the courthouse on the National Register of Historic Places. That will make the courthouse eligible for some grants to restore the paintings including a $50,000 grant from the Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, he said.
The painting is still in relatively good condition so any work would be a restoration rather than reproduction, Pflum said.
Wayne Goodman, director of the Eastern Region Office of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana in Mount Auburn, said Tuesday afternoon he had seen the paintings on the walls and in the hallways but was unaware of the what was uncovered in the courtroom. There are other grants available to aid in the restoration of the paintings and Historic Landmarks would work with the county, he said
The artwork may have been original to the courthouse, which was constructed in 1849, Hooker said.
He said the judge had asked Schmidt to look at some alternate solutions for supplying heating, air conditioning and lighting that did not include coming through the ceiling as originally planned, he said.