Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
PAOLI – Repairs to the historic Orange County Courthouse clock tower and roof that were damaged by an August tornado will cost about $1.5 million.
Fortunately, the bulk of the cost will be covered by the county’s insurance carrier.
Commissioner President Richard Dixon said Glenroy Construction of Indianapolis will oversee the project. Dixon said Glenroy has experience working on historic buildings.
Scaffolding currently covers one side of the courthouse and a large crane is positioned to begin the work.
The EF1 tornado caused extensive damage to buildings on the Paoli downtown square, courthouse and several homes. Two downtown buildings that were damaged beyond repair have been torn down. The strong winds shifted the clock tower from its perch.
Dixon said county leaders knew repairs would need to be made but were surprised when inspection of the damage proved to be more serious than originally thought. A fire in the courthouse during the 1990s charred the beams that support the clock tower. At that time, it was determined the beams did not need replaced.
“The EF-1 tornado threw the clock tower askew and broke one of the charred beams and that’s why it’s leaning more. All of that old wood and support structure has to come out and the clock tower has to be removed,” Dixon explained. “It’s over 150 years old. That clock tower has probably never been removed since it was built so it’s quite an undertaking.”
Once the tower is removed, the clock will be taken to the Verdin Company, a clock company in Cincinnati, Ohio, where it will be reconditioned.
In addition to restoring the clock tower, the roof will be replaced (at a cost of $241,000), the cupola atop the tower will be reconditioned and the chimneys reinforced. Dixon said the chimneys have been damaged a couple of times by high winds in the past.
“We hope that what we’re doing now will fix it for another 150 years,” Dixon said.
The Greek Revival courthouse, built in 1850, is the centerpiece of the Paoli downtown. It is one of the two oldest courthouses in the state still in use.
The courthouse will remain open during construction, however, access will be limited for safety reasons during the removal of the clock tower.