The Old Knox County Courthouse in Knoxville is badly in need of repairs to its windows.
Acting Mayor Dennis Maurer says with winter approaching, it’s not likely the work will get done before the end of the year.
The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lowell Mannhardt who owns a woodworking shop across the street, renovated the upstairs to it’s original court setting.
The courthouse formerly was the site of the Knox County Historical Museum until it’s current location was opened in 2009.
The building was also long ago used as the county’s courthouse until 1873 when the county seat was moved to Galesburg.
Ward 3 Alderman Toby Myers said he’s gotten an estimate that puts the repairs around $100,000.
Maurer tells WGIL that may sound steep but says we are talking about very old windows that hopefully can endure.
“Engineering windows that size in this day and age and something that is going to last–I think that is probably what contributes to the cost more than anything else, because now instead of making them out of wood you’re making them out of steel,” Maurer says. “It’s probably a lot more labor intensive.”
Myers has put a request out for bids and it’s possible that council could accept a bid at their next meeting.
