CHILLICOTHE — Those who have stepped foot in the Downtown Chillicothe area know the iconic courthouse that sits on the corner of West Main and Paint Street.
The building was completed in 1858, making it one of the county’s oldest buildings. But as time has gone on, things have needed to be fixed and updated; that is why the Ross County Commissioners have started the process on restoring the courthouse.
In a Commissioners’ meeting on Aug. 3, a group of construction and architecture professionals came together to speak on the restoration.
Phase one of the architecture and design process of the courthouse will be handled by Schooley Caldwell, architecture and designing the courthouse
The first phase will include working on the roof of the historical building; the courthouse and the steep-slope roofs will be re-roofed with standing-seam metal roofs that’ll replace an asphalt shingle roof. According to Schooley Caldwell employees, this will be more historically accurate.
The standing-seam roof will be reddish in color, to represent the other red tin metal roofs around Chillicothe.
One of the biggest projects for the first phase is to paint the clock tower. Other things like gutters and downspouts will be replaced, as well.
The first phase has already began, with other phases such as replacing windows, stonework, and fixing doors starting in following years.
The front door, sidewalks, and alleyways around the courthouse will remain open.
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: What to know about the Ross County Courthouse restoration
Reporting by Destiny Torres, Chillicothe Gazette / Chillicothe Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Destiny Torres, Chillicothe Gazette | USA TODAY Network
