ClippingGARGOYLES AT front of building present an eery welcome to the
most famous of Oxford buildings.
Oxford's pride and joy
is given • facelift,
By JANICE VANSICRLE
Sentinel -Review staff writer
She's not getting older, she just ; keeps
getting better.
The grand dame of Woodstock's -historic
buildings, the 88-year-old county courthouse,
has under gone more cosmetic changes in the
past two years than ever before in her life and
is in for more.
Last summer and again this year the red
sandstone exterior walls are being scrubbed
down with detergent and a high-powered
water spray as. work crews make repairs to
deteriorating mortar joints.
At the end of this year two-thirds of the
building, including the east, west.and north
walls, will have been cleaned up. The south or
front wall of the Romanesque -style building
will likely have to wait a year or two for its
turn.
As the stones are cleaned, deteriorated
window sills are being replaced and painted.
Repairs to the slate roof and replacement
of copper flashing were completed last year.
But the pride and joy of county councillors
responsible for making decisions about the
building is the refurbished council chambers.
Given $30,000 and a free hand, County
Engineer Don Pratt brought the ground floor
room up to modern-day standards;' while at
the same time enhancing its original at-
tributes.
The intricate woodwork, a mixture of oak,
cherry and pine, was stripped and refinished
along with the warden's and councillor's
desks and chairs. Red leather topping on the
desks was also replaced.
The floor was covered with blue carpet to
improve the acoustics and the walls were
painted a different shade of blue.
The frames protecting the pictures of the
county's past wardens were also cleaned and
restored. '
Lighting fixtures of the same style already
in place were found, refinished and installed
to improve the lighting.
An air circulating system was installed in
the attic to improve the flow of both warm
and cool .air.
Varnish that had for some strange reason
been applied to the stained glass windows
was also removed.
Theatre -type seats in the gallery were
replaced by benches similar to church pews.
All the work, including making the wood
valances installed over the windows to match
those over the doorways, was carried out by
local craftsmen.
Similar work now is being carried out in the
provincial court office and in the past year or
so various other offices in the building have
been refurbished.
Plans now are in the making to update the
antiquated oil -fired steam heating system.
A 1894 blueprint of the original ventilating
system is being used as resource material. "
Once the new heating system is in place,
work will begin `on converting empty
basement rooms into additional office space
for overcrowded county staff.
Custodian Howard Pye, whose family has
looked after buildings on the county square
for some 43 years, said the building has never
been given such an overhaul before.
"I wouldn't say it's been neglected, but it's
nice to see it being restored. It's really a
beautiful building."
The building was designed by architects
Cuthbertson and Fowler, whose thriving
business in Woodstock led to the design of
other prominent buildings such as the county
house of refuge, west of the city, which now is
the home of Fanshawe College, Chapel public
school, Dundas Street United Church, All
Saints Anglican Church and several private
residences around the city.
THE OXFORD County courthouse, the queen of Oxford,architecture, is undergoing a facelift.
- Staff photos by Philip Walker':
INTRICATE DESIGNS are prominent on face of building. COUNTY COUNCIL's meeting chambers have taken on a polished look.
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