Repairs needed to Winneshiek County Courthouse

The problems started right around Christmas, say Winneshiek County officials.  A heavy, wet snow couldn't drain properly when it started melting, so water came in the third floor Winneshiek County Courtroom instead.

On Monday morning, architectural historian Doug Steinmetz was crawling onto some scaffolding in the courtroom to get a better picture of the damage.  He concentrated on an area in the southeast corner of the courtroom, although other spots in the courthouse reportedly also have suffered some water damage.

The top of one of the pillars in a wall crashed onto the floor recently, say county officials.  Then the water started running down the wall.

The courthouse is more than 100 years old, first being occupied in November 1904.  In 1975 all new windows were put in the courthouse.  In 1990 and 1991 a renovation was done to the second and third floors of the courthouse, with a portion paid through grant funding.

Steinmetz has promised county supervisors he will make recommendations to them about what repairs are needed.

Architectural historian Doug Steinmetz inspects the damage (Click on photos for larger images)