Old photos key to historic restoration aspect of Saline County Courthouse renovation

The photo above is among those in Bill Sleeper's collection. It was taken in 1937 and shows the old stone arches over windows, chimneys that no longer exist and the absence of gables over the north entrances. (Contributed photo) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

That's no surprise. Any building that lasts for more than a century will have a long history of renovations large and small, and each of those projects is an opportunity for changes to be introduced.

But how has it changed? Bill Sleeper is working to find out.

Bill Sleeper, county buildings and grounds supervisor, looks at an old postcard showing the Saline County Courthouse as it appeared during the first half of the 20th century. Sleeper is seeking more photos of the courthouse in order to better document features that have been changed or lost over the years. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

With the next major renovation set to begin soon, the county buildings and grounds supervisor has started collecting old photographs of the courthouse in an effort to document its evolution.

And he invites members of the community who have old photographs to share theirs in an effort to provide a more complete account of the building's physical history.

Sleeper said he would borrow old photos only long enough to make a copy for his records.

He also hopes the renovation project will be an opportunity to reintroduce features of the building that were lost in renovations past.

All renovation design features are subject to the approval of the Saline County Courthouse Preservation Committee in consultation with the architect hired to develop the renovation design.

But Sleeper hopes his photo collection will give the committee and the architect a range of options for restoring old features wherever feasible.

Some of the features Sleeper has discovered in his research include stone arches that used to be over the windows and ornamental rosettes that adorned the roof when it was still covered in slate shingles.

He has found a few rosettes stashed in the building's tower, examples that could potentially be used to find or fabricate replacements.

He has also noted that gables and light poles were added to the main entrances and evidence of a small cupola that once was perched atop the tower.

The 1959 renovation may have had the most dramatic impact on the building's appearance, he said. That was when the stone arches were removed from the windows and an entryway added on the east side for the ladies' restroom.

Sleeper said he knows there will be limits to how much historical restoration can be done.

"There's so much structural stuff that has to be done," he said recently.

But major renovations don't happen often, and he said he hopes some restoration can be included.

In any case, the photo record of the building's history will be a worthwhile thing to have.

"We just need more detail," he said.

Anyone who has old photos of the courthouse -- especially those taken prior to the 1950s -- can contact Sleeper at 660-886-8240.

Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net

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Commissioners make the case for courthouse renovation sales tax at Marshall Rotary meeting:
www.marshallnews.com/story/1318191.html