Dateline: December 6, 2001

Courthouse project on track despite delay   

Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Workers from Phoenix 1 have been busy using chemicals and fine tools to remove decades of paint and stain from woodwork in the 1890 Donley County Courthouse. Enterprise Digital Photo

Restoration work on the Donley County Courthouse is on schedule despite an unexpected redesign of foundation work for the main tower.

Plans originally called for four 30-foot piers to be sunk at the corners of the main tower as reinforcement for the weight which will be added when the third story is recreated. But workers with Phoenix 1 encountered sand and rock at a depth of 30 feet, making the design unfeasible.

To compensate, Phoenix’ Dwight Smith says engineers designed a new spread footing that will incorporate 10’ x 10’ footings at a depth of five feet below sidewalk grade. Workers began pouring the new foundation last week and were expected to continue early this week.

Phoenix officials say the redesign caused a two-week delay in one phase of the project but did not affect the overall schedule of the work.

Inside the 1890 courthouse, workers are busy stripping decades of paint and stain from woodwork and are completing demolition work.

A massive masonry vault from the old Home Extension Office was removed, and a doorway connecting that office to the main corridor was re-opened. The vault was not original to the building, having been added in about 1914, according to project architect Chris Hutson. The vault door, which is original, will be returned to an adjacent vault in the same room.

Also in the old Home Extension Office, workers opened a wall where architects theorized two large pocket doors were once installed. The theory was confirmed with the discovery of the original wooden track for the doors still in place.

The doors themselves were stored in the attic of the courthouse and will be refinished.

Two iron fireplace mantels that were hidden when the elevator was installed in the early 1980s have also been removed. The mantels, with patent dates of 1887, will be used to recreate fireplace surrounds in the future county judge’s office.

Original tile from in front of one hearth was also recovered from the elevator shaft.

For more information on the restoration of the Donley County Courthouse, click here.