Address:
Cooperstown, New York 13326
Owner:
County of Otsego
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Completion Date: 1984
The Otsego County Court House was constructed in 1880 to the designs of the prominent Syracuse architect, Archimedes Russell. The building is an outstanding example of the high Victorian Gothic with many Queen Anne Revival elements. The lofty courtroom, with its timber trusses and stained-glass windows, possesses an almost ecclesiastical character.
The firm was first retained to address the problem of a coping stone which had fallen from the parapet gable of the main facade. After completion of emergency repairs and additional roof repairs, the firm was requested to undertake preparation of a Historic Structure Report. This report unraveled the history of modifications which had occurred over the course of a century, analyzed the condition of the building, and made recommendations for restoration and compliance with current building code requirements.
Based on these recommendations, restoration of the building began in 1983. All exterior features were repaired or restored. New slate roofs with ornamental iron crestings were reinstated, decorative stonework was conserved, brickwork was cleaned and repointed, and new foundations were inserted under the entrance portico. Interior restoration consisted of restoring most rooms to their original 1880 condition, including decorative painting, lighting fixtures, and furnishings. A new at grade entrance, elevator, and exit stair were introduced to comply with access and egress requirements. The monumental Queen Anne courtroom on the second floor was restored by removal of a modern hung ceiling and material which covered more than half a dozen original windows, repair of original furniture, and replication of the historic decorative paint scheme. Acoustic, ventilation, and heating problems were solved by installation of modern systems. In the basement, facilities to accommodate the County Board of Elections as well as toilets and a meeting room were developed. The new work was designed in a contemporary manner which exploited and exposed the massive brick and stone foundations. A new heating, cooling, and ventilation system was installed to service the entire building; new toilet facilities were constructed on all three levels; and new electrical, communication, and fire detection systems were installed in all spaces.
In 1986, the Preservation League of New York State gave its Preservation Award to the courthouse restoration.