Courthouse Restoration


Garfield County Courthouse 

 ~ Hopes for Restoration~    

Located in the heart of Pomeroy, lies this beautiful and stately courthouse, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The courthouse was rebuilt with brick in 1900 when the original wood-frame courthouse was destroyed by fire.  Now, time has taken its’ toll, and this centerpiece needs hope in order to preserve its’ history…its’ story!

 

 

History:   
•         Built in 1901
•         Fourth oldest Courthouse in Washington
•         Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1977
•         Focal Point of Downtown Pomeroy Historic District
•         Architectural Style: Various influences, including Queen Anne style
•         Basalt stone foundation, stone quarried from Valentine area
•         Unreinforced red brick walls, brick manufactured south of golf course
•         Wood framed floors & roof, sheet metal details

 
The Run-Down
A Fading Small Town Centerpiece

Things that Need Attention:  

•         Leaky roofs and gutters with water damage in the soffits and roof      edge                                                                                                   
•         Dry rot on some rafter tails                                                               
•         Water damage in attic from unscreened soffit vents                         
•         Missing and damaged metal details                                                   
•         Historically inappropriate exterior doors                                          
•         Bent and dented gutters and downspouts not fitting historic               character                                                                                           
•         Windows: single glazed, double hung, original wood frames            
•         Window hardware & counterweights in bad shape                            
•         West & south windows show severe weathering and signs of dry rot 
•         Attic windows in very poor condition                                                 
•         Clock tower and east gable have shifted due to wind damage            
•         Existing chimney is not reinforced or braced                                    
•         Areas of fractured stone and damaged mortar on foundation           
•         Heating:  Oil fired steam boiler with radiators throughout               
•         Cooling:  AC in courtroom, Sheriff’s offices, but nowhere else        
•         No ventilation on 1st & 2nd floors                                                    
•         Systems do not meet energy code requirements                               
•         Plumbing fixtures do not meet quantity or handicap requirements  
•         Water supply & waste lines corroded                                              
•         No fire sprinkler system                                                                  
•         Not able to handle telecommunication requirements                      
•         Fire alarm system needs updating                                                   
•         Insufficient emergency exit lighting systems                                    
   •         Inadequate mechanical venting, possible failure to 911 & Sheriff’s  Dept. equipment                                                                              
•         Current system could lead to: fire, fry, trip, or flip                          
•         Fire:  from over-split, ungrounded outlets                                       
•         Fry:  the equipment that’s plugged into over-split outlets                
•         Trip:  on the mess of extension cords that are present                    
•         Flip:  the main breaker, because the system is overloaded             
   •         Most historic millwork (trims, rosettes, wainscoting, moldings)      removed or damaged during remodels                                           
•         Original plaster ceilings covered with acoustic tile                         
•         Original wood floors covered by vinyl tile                                     
•         Fluorescent tube lighting fixtures                                                   
•         Original lath & plaster walls covered by sheet plastic wainscoting, paneling                                                                                           
 

 

 

   Prospected Cost of Renovation
Total Estimate & Proposed Funding

·      Total estimated renovation costs: 

            $4.6 million

Sources of Funding:

•         $1 million already in a savings account for this project

•         Sales of bonds

•         Matching funds from the Historic County Courthouse Rehabilitation Grant Program

 

Take pride in the most

revered building in

Garfield County,

keep the Garfield County Courthouse

STANDING