130 Year Old Courthouse Undergoing Renovations

PERRY COUNTY, OH – An area courthouse that’s stood for over 130 years is getting a facelift.

The Perry County Courthouse has stood tall since 1887.  It’s receiving much-needed repairs, starting with the replacement of its original roof. 

“The roof was in terrible shape.” Ben Carpenter, a Perry County Commissioner said. “The courthouse actually was getting to a state of disrepair. We had to do something with the roof, it was leaking all the time. So, we’re under construction right now. The courthouse is slowly getting engulfed in scaffolding. So anybody that drives by New Lexington will see the courthouse is going to be enclosed in scaffolding.”

The project also includes modern upgrades for accessibility and safety. A new elevator will be installed, along with an additional staircase to meet current building codes.

“The old elevator isn’t in a spot that’s conducive to modern operations of the courthouse.” Carpenter said. “So, the new elevator shaft will actually be in a different location. And we will restore the brick staircase in the courthouse, and take some of that restoration work as part of that. And then of course, the staircase doesn’t meet code, so we’ll have to install a second stairwell.”

The planning process for this project started about four years ago, and is hoped to be completed by 20-25.