Courthouse gets historic marker, renovations planned

• The 29th area Ohio Historic Marker was placed Thursday outside the Licking County Courthouse.
• During the ceremony, commissioners announced a $4 million courthouse renovation project.

NEWARK – As he stood Thursday in front of the steps of the Licking County Courthouse, former County Commissioner Doug Smith asked the people gathered around him to stop and think about the history of the building.

Built in 1876, the building survived a fire in its dome in 1879 and has been an iconic building in the county for 139 years. It's filled with artwork and architecture that symbolizes the history of the area.

"What a great building we own," Smith said. "Just look at it. It's a great courthouse for a great county."

Local government officials, community leaders and county residents spent Thursday morning on the courthouse lawn, celebrating its past and its future.

With help from the county's judges, the Licking County commissioners unveiled a new Ohio Historic Marker on the courthouse grounds which tells the story of the building. They also announced a $4 million renovation project that will help preserve the building for many years to come.

"It's been crying out for restoration," Commissioner Duane Flowers said. "We want it to regain its good health."

The building is Licking County's fourth courthouse, but all of them have been built on the same piece of land, Smith said. The first one was a log building built in 1809 that served as both a courthouse and a tavern.

The second courthouse was built in 1815 and replaced by another building in 1832. That brick building was destroyed by a fire in 1875. Construction began the following year on the courthouse that's currently on the square.

It cost about $190,000 to build, which would be about $5 million today, he said.

All those details were carefully researched and submitted in the proposal for the historic sign, said Andy Verhoff, historical fund grant manager and historical markers coordinator for Ohio History Connection.

The organization works with local representatives, such as the county commissioners, to get historic signs created.

The commissioners had to go through an application process and draft text they would like to appear on the sign.

"They also have to tell us why it deserves a historic marker," Verhoff said. "That was pretty easy with a building like this."

It took about a year to fact-check all the research and get the sign completed, Commissioner Tim Bubb said. It's the 29th Ohio Historic Marker in Licking County.

After the cover was pulled off the marker, Flowers announced plans for the building's future.

With the city of Newark completing a significant sewer project on the square, it seemed like the right time to make needed repairs on the building.

Using money from the county's general fund, the commissioners have approved a complete renovation of the outside of the building and a new elevator inside, he said.

Robertson Construction Services in Heath will oversee the project, which will include the installation of new windows, tuck pointing of the brickwork, fixing the steps and putting on a new roof. A skylight in the building also will be made visible, Flowers said.

Construction likely will start in September or October and is estimated to take between a year and 18 months, he said.

"They will work collaboratively with the commissioners to maintain the integrity of the building," he said.

Over the years, Smith said he continues to be awestruck by the building's magnificence. He said he's looking forward to seeing the restoration completed.

"This building continues to serve residents of this county and with the upgrades, it will continue to do so for years to come," he said.

ajeffries@newarkadvocate.com

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Twitter: @amsjeffries