Fayette County Courthouse

Dates:

1847-1849/1881
Location: Connersville, Indiana
Builder: John Elder of Marion County, Indiana
Cost: $20,000
Remodeled: 1890 (thorough exterior and interior remodeling)
Architect: W. S. Kaufman of Richmond, Indiana
Contractor: Downs, Ready & Co.
Cost: $36,192
architect: Schmidt Associates of Indianapolis (2005-2006 renovation)

The second Fayette County Courthouse had been built by John Elder of Marion County during 1847-1849, for a cost of $20,000. The spectacular ceiling paintings seem to date from an 1881 remodeling of the court room.

 

The substantial remodeling in 1890 involved re-skinning the building in the Romanesque style, raising the roofline, and adding the tower.  The architect was W. S. Kaufman of Richmond, and the contractors were Downs, Ready & Co.  The remodeling cost $36,192. 

 

The original (1849) walls of the court room, in rough plaster scored to imitate stone blocks, were skimmed over with a new layer of smooth plaster, upon which the new wall paintings were applied.  The re-use of the old roof trusses in 1890 instead of building new trusses for the altered roofline suggests that the ceiling was not disturbed during the remodeling.   The style of the painting itself suggests the 1870s-1880s, and 1881 seems to be the most likely date.  The history books note that the Connersville newspapers sought to have the courthouse demolished in the 1870s, suggesting no significant work had been done on the building during that decade.  Thus, the evidence suggests that the painting dates to the remodeling of 1881.  Further examination of the commissioners’ minutes, local newspapers, and other county records should help to establish this date with greater certainty.

 

The present restoration of the original courthouse is the second part of the renovation and addition to the building, designed by Schmidt Associates, architects, of Indianapolis. At present the painted ceiling remains in jeopardy. Its discovery comes at at time when the county has no extra funds to pay for the cleaning and restoration of the paintings. It will require the support of many to preserve this amazing work of art, but it is a treasure without equal in the entire state and is definitely worth restoring.

 

8-14-05 A view of the main front of the courthouse prior to renovation The new side entrance designed by Schmidt Associates
A composite photograph of the ceiling showing the areas uncovered by Garland Guild
Click for a Larger View of the Ceiling
A restored view of the ceiling pattern (prepared by Ben L. Ross for Schmidt Associates)
View of the ceiling, note wires from the 1955 drop ceiling Community members from Historic Connersville, Inc., view the paintings during a special tour
Dean Illingworth, with Schmidt Associates, explains the decorative painting to the crowd Detail of the areas cleaned on the cove moulding and the wall border
Segments of the bottom wall border which ran along the top of the wainscoting  
The 1849 wall treatment--rough plaster simulating granite--lies beneath a c.1881 skim coat of plaster Detail of the earliest wall treatment of the court room.
Detail of the 1890 facade designed by W. S. Kaufman The tower with the much hated corn-silo dome prior to the restoration of its conical roof
Views of the new addition on the back of the historic courthouse  
View of one of the twin staircases View showing areas of stenciling uncovered in the second floor hall
Detail of the hall stenciling, which dates to the 1890 remodeling The attic stairs, which seem to date from the 1881 remodeling
Another view of the attic stairs A view of the attic showing the original roof trusses (which support the courtroom ceiling paintings) and the new timbers added atop them in 1890 to raise the roof without disturbing the painted ceiling.