KENOSHA, Wis. — The restoration of the historic Ceremonial Courtroom inside the Kenosha County Courthouse is moving closer to completion, with crews continuing work to return the space to its original 1925 appearance.
Workers from Michigan-based Historic Surfaces LLC are restoring decorative finishes and architectural details that had been covered up for more than 50 years. The project is expected to be completed by the end of June.
The effort has been funded through more than $1.35 million in private donations, along with a $675,000 grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation and a $100,000 matching grant from the TAWANI Foundation.
Once complete, the courtroom will once again function as a working courtroom, but it is also expected to be used for weddings, adoptions and other community events.
The Kenosha County Courthouse was designed by noted Kenosha architect Joseph Lindl and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The county celebrated the courthouse’s 100th anniversary last summer as restoration work on the courtroom began.
Among the work underway are restored decorative wall panels, newly uncovered architectural details, refinished radiator grates and gold-leafed lettering surrounding the ceiling. Crews have also been carefully repainting the room to match its original color palette and decorative patterns from a century ago.
Photos released by the county show workers restoring ornate column capitals, painting around the Abraham Lincoln quote that rings the ceiling and filling in intricate details on the courtroom’s wall panels.
More information about the restoration project is available through Kenosha County.
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One Response
I want to know who made the dumb decision to cover all of it up! What were they thinking! 🤔