MONROE — The single most iconic building in Green County has been restored, and a public rededication ceremony on Dec. 2 was held to celebrate the building and those in charge of preserving it.

The Historic Green County Courthouse, originally built in 1891, faced its toughest challenge during a two-year, $8 million project, which started off as a routine roofing project that quickly snowballed into a collaborative effort to save the building from crumbling.

“These restoration efforts have been a labor of love — a meticulous endeavor to honor our past while preserving our future,” Arianna Voegeli, Green County Clerk, told the crowd of about 80 that gathered at the west steps for the rededication ceremony. “The rejuvenation of this majestic building, especially the meticulous restoration of its brickwork and masonry, stands as a testament to our commitment to heritage, conservation, and cultural preservation.”

Jerry Guth, County Board Chair, and Dick Marti, Courthouse Maintenance Supervisor, shared the ultra-large scissors to cut the celebratory ribbon. 

“It’s been both my honor and privilege to be a part of this historic day and this historic building,” Marti said. “I’ve said it many times ... I will guarantee to the people in Green County that this building is in better shape than it was when it was built 130 years ago. We’ll get the maintenance done that needs to be done, and we’ll keep this gem the way it is.”

Renaissance Roofing out of Rockford, which centers its business on restoring centuries-old historical buildings, was hired to lead the project. Marti oversaw the day-to-day progress on behalf of the county.

“Their commitment to excellence and their role in not just replacing a roof but unveiling a deeper narrative of preservation has been instrumental to this transformative journey,” Voegeli said.

“It’s been my honor and privilege to work with Renaissance and all of their subcontractors. You would not believe the dedication that these folks have,” Marti added.

Voegeli’s speech, available to read in full in the bottom corner, centered on community unity, collaboration, and the preservation of local culture and heritage. The courthouse, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, embodies the local community as a whole, she said.

“As we re-dedicate this iconic structure today, let us recommit ourselves to the values that it represents, the reverence of our past and our commitment to continue to uphold and preserve our heritage,” Voegeli said. “May this historical courthouse continue to serve as a symbol of our community’s strength, unity and progress. Let us cherish and safeguard this crown-jewel of the City of Monroe and Green County for generations to come.”

The Romanesque Building

The courthouse, originally built in 1891, was designed by architect G. Stanley Mansfield in the Richardsonian Romanesque-style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 21, 1978. The famous clock tower on the southwest corner rises 120 feet into the air and is visible throughout much of Monroe and the surrounding highways coming into town.

An icon of the county for 130 years, the courthouse has had its structural issues before. In 1955, a strong wind storm damaged the clock tower’s steeple, which was later removed and capped flat with cement due to a lack of funds. Just 30 years later, the local Quester’s club raised the funds to restore the steeple.

Then, the courthouse had 25-year roofing tiles installed in the late 1980s — nearly 40 years ago. When crews began working in the fall of 2021, they peeled back the curtain and knew immediately that there was much more extensive work ahead.

By the 1980s, years of expansion and contraction had caused vertical joints on the aluminum sheet metal on the towers to pull apart, and in 1985, the board chose fiberglass shingles for the main roof and copper sheeting for the towers.

This latest renovation of the building started in September 2021, with roofing and sprinkler systems being the main areas to fix. The guaranteed life of the fiberglass shingles for the roof was more than a decade gone by, so a new slate roof was picked as a replacement for the main roof and towers. Slate, quarried from the ground, has been durable for centuries throughout Europe, from castles to cathedrals. Coated copper covers the clock tower.

The goal for the renovation was to not only protect and preserve the building, but also to return it as much as possible to the historic, authentic state as built in 1891.

The clock tower walls are built three bricks thick and held together with mortar. Bricks and mortar are both porous, and water leaked in, then froze and thawed time after time over the course of more than a century, cracking and eroding the interior bricks. The erosion was exacerbated due to the plastering of the interior attic walls, which retained much of the moisture and hid the decay.

“What began in the fall of 2021 as a routine roof and gutter replacement quickly evolved into a much larger project,” Voegeli said.

Replacing the roof meant it would be necessary to further the project to many other areas of the building, towers and attic level, leading to higher costs. The project ballooned from its initial estimate of only about $1.8 million to $5.8 million, to finally about $8.3 million. Green County elected leaders designated money from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to offset some of the increases. Marti said the project remained within budget.

“It took a little convincing at first, but once they saw the deficiencies we had and the problems that were up there, it made sense,” Marti told the Times in September 2023. “It was either fix it or fence it off so nobody got hurt. At some point, pieces were going to start falling off the building.”

First the peak was removed in June 2022, then brick by brick, layer by layer, the rest of the tower came down. Eventually, the tower was built back up and the floors reinstalled. 

Everything from the weather vane to the bottom of the bell room windows was removed, Marti said. Bricks that could be saved were cleaned and re-purposed. About 15,000 new bricks and 6,500 pounds of mortar were used. In all, it took 20,000-man hours of masonry to complete the clock tower portion alone.

“Each brick, each tile of slate, and each piece of metal speaks volumes of our dedication to preserving the authenticity and integrity of this historic landmark. The artisans and craftsman who poured their expertise and passion into this restoration project has breathed new life into our courthouse, ensuring it stands for generations to come,” Voegeli said.

The new roof, with about 135,000 pounds of slate, took another 13,000-man hours to complete. Another 15,000 pounds of copper and 45,000 copper nails were used to fasten the trimmings.

The clock tower peak was restored this past June, and the floors and new stairs eventually installed. 

As different portions of the roof and exterior were completed, scaffolding around the building was removed. In November 2023, the last of the scaffolding were removed. Marti said when the scaffolding was fully erected, it was 120 steps from the ground to the top.

“The rejuvenation of this majestic building, especially the meticulous restoration of its brickwork and masonry, stands as a testament to our commitment to heritage, conservation, and cultural preservation,” Voegeli said. “Together we have not only saved the building, but upheld a legacy. The spirit of collaboration and determination displayed throughout this restoration project has set the standard for our community’s unity and commitment to preserving our heritage.”

Skin in the game

While the Green County public had little say in the matter and watched the project from the outside of the scaffolding, those on the County Board had to hunker down and make tough decisions week after week to get the project up and running.

“It’s been a magnificent journey,” Guth said. “One of the things you have to understand is that you have to have the trust in people — you can’t know everything yourself, but you can know about people. And the county is very fortunate with the people that it has in place — whether it be Dick Marti, or our clerk Ari, or the people on the Property Committee — we all can’t do everything, but we can do some things, and we can do some things well — and they did things well.”

Early on, there were detractors on the County Board that weren’t so convinced on the ever-rising cost of the project.  Guth praised the work of Marti not just on final results from the craftsman he worked with, but also on his communication to the board throughout the process, especially at the beginning.

“(Marti) was able to talk the talk on the problems that were facing this building and be able to relate and convey that to the members of the Oversight Committee and also the County Board,” Guth said. “I know that he has persuaded a few people that were not supportive of this on the County Board, but the way that he was able to explain it — in a very plain and very factual and complete way — he persuaded people to support it. The impact that he had on building a consensus on what should be done — without that it may not have happened.”

Guth said Marti’s impact on the project could not be calculated.

“Dick was a lynchpin. Without that conduit between us and Renaissance, it wouldn’t have been as smooth, and it wouldn’t probably have been as good of an outcome,” Guth said. “He has skin in this game, in this building. When he was young and in high school, he worked around it. He’s proud of his community, he’s proud of his county and he wants to be a part of it. This is part of his heritage. I am so respectful of him.”

Guth also commended his fellow County Board Supervisors for working together and putting the community over personal ambitions.

“Every month it seemed like we had change orders. It’s not easy, because then people start to question the process,” Guth said. “I give credit to the board — they asked hard questions. … Then we made hard decisions. We decided we were going to do things correctly. We decided we were not going to saddle another generation down the road with these tough problems — we were going to do it right, and we were going to do it for the long term. I think you can see the results here. … This is a thing of beauty — a stately, iconic building in the middle of Green County.”

Guth said the restoration project and the historical building is something every resident of Green County can be proud of.

“It symbolizes not only our heritage and our respect for the past work, but also our optimism for our future. Hopefully it will instill other people to say, ‘Let’s take care of our other buildings,’ because they are our heritage and our past, and we should be proud of it,” Guth said.

‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity

Guests that came to the ceremony were able to watch a video filled with photos of the project — from the damaged bricks and roof, to the careful, meticulous process of restoring the building brick by brick. 

Inside the County Board Room, which was the county’s courtroom for 116 years until 2009, were cookies, cheese, meats and other snacks to taste and enjoy. There were also spare parts of the project — from leftover bricks and copper fittings, to the original wooden clock hands, as well as the old finial.

At the rededication ceremony, guests had the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to go up the tower to see the inside of the clock faces and check out the 360-degree view of Monroe from the bell room. Most eyeballs have only ever looked at the clock tower from street-level, with fewer yet traveling the skies by plane, and even fewer standing at approximately the highest point in the city.

“I am pleased that so many people wanted to come up and see it,” Marti said.

Green County Circuit Court Judges Thomas Vale and Faun Marie Phillipson were both among those in attendance, as well as Monroe Mayor Donna Douglas.

“In the old days, the courthouse was in the center of town, and the courthouse was ‘the place’ — you built your downtown around the courthouse,” said Vale, who was elected to his post in 2009. That was the same year the new Justice Center was built, which allowed for much of the county’s operations to move, as space in the historic courthouse was extremely limited. The historic courthouse still holds county offices, like the County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Green County Tourism and the Cheese Days store in the basement.

“This is an unbelievable icon, historic edifice. I’m so happy that this building will stay for another hundred years. This is wonderful. They don’t build them like this anymore. Just the craftsmanship — the woodwork, the tile floors … the clock tower and all of that. I’m just so happy that it could be preserved,” Vale said.

Two 8-feet-by-11 oil paintings by German-immigrant artist Franz Rohrbeck are on display in the main court room. Rohrbeck also painted one of the murals at the Wisconsin State Capitol. The paintings and ornate carvings along the walls and wood trim are just some of the historical relics preserved in the building.

Douglas grew up on 21st Street and has spent her life proudly serving Monroe and Green County. For 19 years, she served Green County with Southwest Regional Planning. She praised the efforts of the county and restoration crews.

“It was worth every penny that they put into it and it will now stand for another 130 years. When you look around at the interior — it isn’t just the exterior — it’s the interior that we had to preserve,” Douglas said. “I’m so proud to serve Green County in any capacity. I just love Monroe and Green County.”

What’s next

While a major project at the sight was just completed, there is another smaller project already on the schedule. 

Marti said that this winter, work will begin to repair the courthouse’s two main entrances on the east and west sides. Both entrances have covered limestone porches.

“The steps are basically in the same shape the rest of the courthouse was in,” Marti said. 

He said that each porch is just one or two pieces of limestone. However, in the 1980s, the limestone began to get rough, and a concrete cap was put over the top. 

“Well now it’s trapped the water in the limestone and it’s all delamination. They are in tough shape,” Marti said.

First the west side will be fixed, then the east side. They also plan to have handicapped-accessible ramp entrances, though the slope of the hill that the building sits on could cause some issues.

“It’ll be almost 100% ADA-compliant. You’re kind of grandfathered in to ADA stuff. You do what you can do. There’s so much elevation change from the east side to the west side that mathematically we can’t get that 1% slope to get down in there,” Marti said.

Work will begin this winter — or by the spring at the latest. However, this project won’t last two years.

“It’ll be in the contract that it needs to be done by Cheese Days,” Marti said.

Green County Clerk Ariana Voegeli’s speech at the rededication ceremony of the historic county courthouse building on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023:

Today marks a remarkable milestone in the history of our beloved courthouse. Standing tall and proud since its inauguration in 1891, this architectural gem has weathered the tests of time, bearing witness to the evolution of our community and the passage of many generations. 

As we gather here today, we come together to celebrate not just the structure itself, but the spirit that it embodies — the resilience, perseverance and enduring legacy of our city and county. 

What began in the fall of 2021 as a routine roof and gutter replacement quickly evolved into a much larger project. As the old shingles and metal cornice and gutters were carefully removed, a hidden reality was exposed — substantial deterioration that extended well beyond the surface. The seemingly simple task of replacing the roof had unmasked significant challenges in the brick, stone and masonry of this esteemed building.

This unexpected turn of events demanded a reassessment of our project’s scope — a pivot from a routine upgrade to a comprehensive restoration endeavor. The urgency to address the underlying issues became very evident. 

The scope of work was expanded to include the deconstruction and reconstruction of the top portions of the building on all sides; the removal and rebuilding of the east and west gables; work on the limestone capstones; work in the northwest and southeast turrets; and the removal of the clock tower roof, complete deconstruction of the clock tower to the bell level, and reconstruction and the placement of a new concrete pad subsequently followed by the existing roof structure. 

What was initially estimated to be a 9-month project turned into over two years of work. These restoration efforts have been a labor of love — a meticulous endeavor to honor our past while preserving our future. The rejuvenation of this majestic building, especially the meticulous restoration of its brickwork and masonry, stands as a testament to our commitment to heritage conservation and cultural preservation. 

Each brick, each tile of slate, and each piece of metal speaks volumes of our dedication to preserving the authenticity and integrity of this historic landmark. The artisans and craftsmen who poured their expertise and passion into this restoration project has breathed new life into our courthouse, ensuring it stands for generations to come. 

This courthouse has not merely witnessed history, it has been a silent guardian, a cornerstone of our identity and a beacon guiding the course of justice and community cohesion. 

As we re-dedicate this iconic structure today, let us recommit ourselves to the values it represents, the reverence of our past and our commitment to continue to uphold and preserve our shared heritage. May this historic courthouse continue to serve as a symbol of our community’s strength, unity and progress. Let us cherish and safeguard this crown-jewel of the City of Monroe and Green County for generations yet to come.

On behalf of Green County, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude and a heartfelt appreciation, firstly to Dick Marti whose expertise in overseeing the project and countless hours he poured into it; to the Property, Parks and Insurance Committee — Roger Truttman, chair; Joe Snow, Barb Krattiger, Jody Hoesly and Dennis Schwartz — and to the County Board Chair (Jerry Guth) and the Green County Board for their unwavering commitment to the preservation and restoration of this building. We also extend a special acknowledgment to Renaissance Roofing and all of their subcontractors for their invaluable expertise, dedication and craftsmanship. Their commitment to excellence and their role in not just replacing a roof but unveiling a deeper narrative of preservation has been instrumental to this transformative journey.

Together we have not only saved the building, we’ve upheld a legacy. The spirit of collaboration and determination displayed throughout this restoration project has set the standard for our community’s unity and commitment to preserving our heritage.