Masonry restoration work begins on old Lee County Courthouse

DIXON – Work has started on restoring the exterior of the old Lee County Courthouse.

In April, the Lee County Board approved about $215,000 for masonry restoration and repairs to the historic building at 112 E. Second St.

The three-part project includes restoring or replacing exterior masonry, cleaning all outside masonry, tuckpointing, replacing mortar joints, removing window sealant and resealing them, removing old anchors and patching limestone.

Tuckpointing involves removing a portion of the deteriorated mortar, filling the joints with new mortar that closely matches the color of the brick, and then applying a thin line of putty in a contrasting color down the center of the joint.

The exterior has deteriorated over time – in some spots more than others – and the board wanted to address the problem for years, but there weren’t enough funds available to do so, board Vice Chairman John Nicholson said.

“It’s a beautiful building and an important landmark,” he said. “It’s one of the most iconic structures in town, and we want to maintain it.”

Work was originally estimated to be about $500,000. The board budgeted $250,000 in capital funds and anticipated getting the other $250,000 from a state grant with the help of state Rep. Tom Demmer.

The grant is geared toward historic sites and has yet to be awarded. Board members wanted to be able to get the project done this construction season, however, so they decided to move forward. The work is slated for completion in September.