The Pulaski County Commissioners and Council heard an update on the courthouse project during their joint session Monday.
Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer announced nearly all furniture within the building has been taken out. He stated much of the furniture is being restored and has been taken to a restorer shop and will also be housed in the lobby of the Pulaski County Highway Garage. He stated they will be moving the remaining pieces of furniture this week.
Origer stated Tonn and Blank carpenters have been delicately removing anything and everything that will be restored as part of the construction contract. Origer mentioned things like wainscot, baseboards, door jams and the judge’s bench have all been taken out to be restored. He went on to say he has been uploading pictures of the progress to the Pulaski County Facebook page and encouraged the council and commissioners to take a look.
Origer announced there have been some interesting discoveries during the project as well. He stated an American Flag with 44 stars dating back to the early 1890s had been found. Origer said the 45th state was admitted some time right around when the Pulaski County Courthouse was built. He added the flag could have potentially been in the previous Pulaski County Courthouse. It was announced the flag was found within the Clerk’s Office vault along with many empty wine bottles dating back more than a century.
Origer said they have also found more hardwood flooring throughout the courthouse than they had assumed. He stated this may lead to small changes in plans, depending on the condition of the wood.
Commission President Chuck Mellon asked Origer what the plan is for the memorabilia found within the courthouse. Origer stated some items are being carefully stored either in the Clerk’s Office or his office in the meantime while the project continues. He added Pulaski County Clerk JoLynn Behny is currently looking in to what it would take to have the flag found from the 1890s restored.
