Work is moving ahead to place historical plaques on the lamp posts on the courthouse square. The posts were placed as part of the Streetscape project, which was completed a year ago.
The Jefferson city council retained $50,000 in Streetscape funds for projects like the lamp posts. It has turned over that part of the finish work to Jefferson Matters: Main Street.
The Jefferson Matters: Main Street design committee and promotions committee worked together to create guidelines for the plaques. JM: MS program director Alan Robinson discussed those guidelines with the city council Tuesday evening and with the Greene County board of supervisors last week.
Content of the historical plaques will be determined by a committee based on applications by the public. The committee is seeking applications on subjects of historically significant people, places and events in Jefferson’s history. The plaques will use objective accounts of historically documented facts, not adulatory language, the guidelines state.
Persons will be considered as a subject of a plaque only if the person has been deceased for at least 25 years. Likewise, plaques recognizing events will be considered only when the event is unique and took place at least 25 years prior to the application. Buildings, sites, or other structures should be at least 50 years old for consideration.
The complete guidelines and applications are available at the Jefferson Matters: Main Street office at 110 W. Lincoln Way, the Jefferson Public Library, Jefferson banks, and the Greene County Chamber and Development office.
Cost of each bronze plaque is expected to be $1,500. The city of Jefferson will pay for 10 plaques on the outside/business side of the courthouse square. Robinson asked the county supervisors to fund eight plaques on the inside (courthouse side) of the square. The supervisors were supportive but took no action on funding at this time.
