Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 12, 1992 TAG: 9203120195
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime, or a millennium, deal if you ask me," said Elrica Graham, who heads a courthouses display subcommittee.
Graham, who collected a number of prehistoric plant fossils in the county when she was a teacher of earth science, showed some of those that could be on permanent display in the reconstructed stone courthouse gutted by fire at the end of 1989.
The story of the New River Valley - including not only its people but scientific research about it dating back millions of years - will be among the depictions.
Mounted between plaques of past and present county officials and the county seal will be a quote from "The Land That Is Pulaski County," a book by historian Conway Smith:
Early settlers in this area dreamed of a land of freedom and opportunity for their children. They have bequeathed to us such a land. Here men and women of faith and courage can still dream - and see their dreams come true."
For Graham and others involved in the project, the work on the century-old courthouse is a dream come true. Passage of a $2.9 million courthouse improvements bond issue last year allowed work on the two buildings to get under way, keeping the court facilities here instead of relocating them elsewhere in the county.
Alan Groseclose, head of the courthouses committee, said the committee realized the potential that the brick courthouse had, too, and "this building was just too good to throw away."
About 35 people attended a public briefing in the brick courthouse Tuesday night on plans for the two courthouses.
Other plans for the stone courthouse include a bust of Count Casimir Pulaski, the Revolutionary War figure from Poland for whom the county is named; art and photo depictions of county history on various ground floor walls from 1839 to the present, a satellite photo of the county, built-in display cases of county and Native American artifacts, and much more.
Graham said the courthouse bell, which fell from the tower during the fire, also will be on display, "and on the charred timbers, to boot."
The stone courthouse will include a community meeting room and offices for the commissioner of revenue and treasurer.
"We're going to really enjoy our new quarters and I think Pulaski County's going to be proud of what we have over there," said Treasurer Rose Marie Tickle, who had seen the reconstruction work earlier.
All courts will be consolidated next door in the brick building, which will be expanded.
Groseclose said brick art - similar to that used at McDonald's restaurants - may be a possibility for the brick structure. The committee has gotten in touch with North Carolina artist Pat Turlington, who does the McDonald's art, to see if the project could be worked out.
A wall of brick art could be a tourist attraction for Pulaski County, Groseclose said. "It's just an idea that we're going to pursue."
A war memorial also is planned and could be a drawing card for visitors.
"Once we have decided what we want in the building, then we will turn the architect loose to finalize it," Groseclose said. "We'll just keep our fingers crossed that it's going to come in consistent with the estimates we made."
County Administrator Joseph Morgan said the county and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court facilities now housed in the brick courthouse will have to find space elsewhere for about a year once the renovation work starts.
Circuit Court facilities, previously in the stone courthouse, are now in the county office building until they can move to the brick structure.
The county Board of Supervisors will hear proposals on the temporary court space at its March 23 meeting.
by CNB