Second repair is more costly
The Greene County board of supervisors on Monday approved the preservation of the smaller of two stained glass domes on the courthouse room. The work is imperative, according to stained glass expert Marty Grund of The Stained Glass Store in Des Moines. His word in undisputed since the Aug. 31 wind storm that brought down tree limbs on the courthouse lawn. Following the storm, the tables under the dome in the courtroom were littered with debris that had sifted down through the dome during the storm.
“This isn’t something that’s optional. It’s something that has to be done,” supervisor Guy Richardson.
The courthouse is nearing 100 years old. The cover was placed over the dome many years ago, with backlighting to provide the artistic look daylight gives stained glass. Despite that, natural deterioration has occurred to the dome’s rebar frame and some of the lead. Gaps are large enough to allow debris to sift through. The photo was taken as Grund inspected the dome from the outside, with the cover raised.
The condition of the dome was not a surprise to the supervisors. Don Van Gilder, who works in the county engineer’s office and serves as the courthouse historian and tour guide, has talked with the supervisors about the stained glass previously. He arranged for Grund to inspect both stained glass domes and give his expert opinion.
According to Grund, the smaller dome is in danger of falling in. With the approval of the supervisors, repair will be done yet this fall. The dome will be dismantled and carefully labeled, piece by piece. Grund will take it to his workshop where he and his craftsmen will rehab and repair the dome, and then he’ll bring it back to Greene County and reassemble it. Estimated time is six weeks. Cost is $31,000, of which about 95 percent is labor.
In the process, the current backlighting will be replaced with LED lighting with a timer switch. Cost of the lighting will be between $3,000 and $4,000, but the bulbs are expected to last up to 25 years. Now the chore of replacing bulbs is dangerous and difficult.
The large stained glass dome over the rotunda is also in need of repair, according to Grund, although the need is not as critical as the smaller dome. The large dome is not covered. It does not yet leak, although Grund said there is deterioration of the lead and some shifting. The dome could be very problematic and a safety hazard if it deteriorates further.
Grund gave an estimate of $175,000 to repair the large dome. Jefferson Matters: Main Street is already in the process of applying for grant funds to cover $75,000 of the cost, but notification about whether the grant is funded will not be received for several months.
The courthouse was built in the Beaux-Arts architectural style that influenced American architecture from 1880 through 1920. The grandeur of large, open spaces and decorative elements like stained glass are a feature of Beaux-Arts.
