County considers adding work to courthouse project

With an infusion of cash from two recent grants, Donley County Commissioners began consideration of adding more work to the restoration of the 1890 Courthouse during a called meeting last Thursday.

The scope of the project had been cut drastically last year when the only bid for the job came in over budget. But with additional funds now available through a $185,000 supplemental state grant, the county is reconsidering some of the deleted project goals.

Sandstone replacement and rehabilitation is the first area the county is looking at. The original bid included approximately $250,000 to address stonework which has deteriorated or failed over the last 112 years. Funds raised through local efforts and from a successful $50,000 challenge grant will likely be directed to address the most critically needed stonework.

“I am very concerned about the stonework around that main entrance on the east side,” said County Judge Jack Hall. “I also want to look at fixing that original cornerstone. It’s very important that those men’s names be there.”

The cornerstone is badly deteriorated from time and the elements, and the names of the original builders and 1890 county officials are in danger of being lost.

Architect Chris Hutson will look at using either cast stone or real stone in rebuilding banisters on either side of the main entrance. Builders will salvage and re-use as much original stone as possible.

“Matching the color of the stone will be the biggest challenge,” Hutson told the court. “Fortunately there is a variety of colors in the building.”

The original quarry for the sandstone in the building has never been identified.

Other additional work being considered includes cleaning and restoration of the artwork on historic vault doors, rehabilitation of the stained glass window in the main corridor, exterior lighting, restoring wood floors in first floor offices, window coverings, sidewalk repair and replacement, and further restoration work on theatre seats in the district courtroom.

County officials also discussed the November collapse of a chimney on the northwest side of the courthouse.

An engineering report after the accident gave no single cause of the collapse but rather pointed to a possible combination of factors, which includes width and condition of existing masonry, weather, and a lack of temporary bracing.

Construction supervisor Stephen Dodge said Phoenix One workers had been concerned about the chimney and had put in more rebar than was called for as well as partially filling the chimney flue with concrete for additional strength.

Unlike most chimneys on the building, the one in question transitions to one side – in a stair step manner – as it goes through the attic, and as a result the center of it shifts approximately 10 inches to one side. While all other chimneys in the building are two-bricks wide on all sides, the failed northwest chimney is two-bricks wide on three sides and one-brick wide on the fourth side. This condition was unknown until after the accident, and it is that side that carries the most weight and was where the chimney failed to support the 20,000 pounds of brick above it.

An engineer has recommended additional bracing as well as lowering both north chimneys from 22 feet to 17 feet to reduce weight and wind pressures.

The Texas Historical Commission, however, has thus far resisted giving permission to lower the chimneys and insisted the now decorative chimneys be fully restored. County officials have sent a letter to the THC asking them to reconsider this decision based on safety concerns.