Indiana Courthouse Preservation Advisory Commission

Indiana DNR Release:



The Courthouse Preservation Advisory Commission has hired Ratio Architects of Indianapolis to prepare a report for the Indiana General Assembly on the value of Indiana’s historic county courthouses to their communities and counties, the condition of the 84 historic courthouse buildings, the priorities for rehabilitation, preservation, and restoration of such structures, and the needs of county officials as they maintain their courthouses and plan for the future. Ratio will analyze information already gathered by the Courthouse Commission from county commissioners, county judges, and site visits by the staff of Indiana Landmarks. The firm will also gather information on funding sources for courthouse preservation projects, the importance of preserving historic courthouses to the history and identity of count seat communities and their counties, and the importance of preserving such courthouses to the economic revitalization of county seat communities and counties. The results of the analysis and research will be compiled into the report, and the Commission will develop findings and recommendations based on statements prepared by Ratio. The report will be delivered to the General Assembly in July of this year.

Funds for producing the report were raised by Courthouse Commission members with grants received from the Efroymson Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, other community foundations across the state, and the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The Courthouse Preservation Advisory Commission, created by the Indiana General Assembly in 2008 to assist county officials in caring for Indiana’s historic courthouses, has been meeting quarterly since April 2009 and has given technical assistance to several counties facing challenges related to preserving their courthouses. Shortly after a fire severely damaged the 1855 Jefferson County Courthouse in June, 2009, Fritz Herget, the professional engineer member, and Ron Ross, the professional architect member, offered preliminary recommendations to county officials on establishing priorities for stabilizing the building and retaining important architectural features.

The Commission has also been speaking at conferences of county commissioners, county judges, community foundations, and Main Street organizations to spread more awareness of the value of historic courthouses and offer the Courthouse Preservation Advisory Commission’s technical assistance.