1883 courthouse restoration continues

Jamestown (CSi) With $350,000 in hand, appropriated this session by the North Dakota State Legislature, plans are going forth for additional 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse renovations.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, North Dakota State Historical Society, Historic Sites Regional Manager, Guinn Hinman said, the funds will be used toward installing a new electrical system and plumbing, plus interior painting will be done, plus restoration of the pressed tin ceilings, and restoring interior walls. Future plans include installing an elevator.

She asked if anyone has photographs of the interior of the courthouse, the way it looked in years past, to let her or Barbara Lang in Jamestown know, and copies will be made and returned. Also being sought is original artifacts from the courthouse.

Photos from September open house, by Matt Sheppard.  More at FACEBOOK

Also on our show, Barbara, a member of the 1883 Courthouse Committee, said local funding raising for matching state dollars continues, with the current goal of raising $60,000, and more fundraisers planned in the future.

She noted that an open house will be planned for later this year, when additional restoration work is completed.

She pointed out that when the electrical and plumbing work is finished it will allow interior work to continue year ‘round, in the now heated building.

When further work is completed the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse is planned to be open for tourists during the summer months, in conjunction with other local tourist sites.

Future plans call for the courthouse to house community events, and may be home to other entities.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the restoration efforts may do so by sending a tax deductible donation to:

1883 Courthouse Committee

P.O. Box 1559

Jamestown, ND 58402