Lee Trawick
Riverbend News
The Lafayette County Courthouse’s clock tower has needed a facelift for a while. Over the years, the clock tower has had minor structural repairs made from the inside. However, the long-term maintenance has been in the works for over a year. With the clock and bell having already been removed, the restoration project went underway, beginning with the removal of the dome on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Clemons, Rutherford and Associates, charged with lifting the tower and transporting it to Tallahassee for restoration, the task began at 9 a.m. The removal of the dome took one and a half hours to complete. Then, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, the remainder of the clock housing was lifted and removed for restoration.
The courthouse clock tower was first built in 1908 and has been a point of pride for Lafayette County for over 100 years. This restoration project could take from nine to 12 months to complete, as several factors will come into play. First, the removal of the dome was necessary to determine what material was used to create it. Next, any rotted structural damage, along with the extra weight added from years of minor repairs will need to be stripped away, all the while preserving the historical aspect of the tower. The project was estimated to cost around $575,000, for which the Lafayette County Board of County Commissioners has played an integral part in securing funding. The Lafayette County Courthouse is located at 120 W Main St., in Mayo.