Haralson County Courthouse

The old Haralson County Courthouse located on the square in Buchanan, Georgia was built in 1891 and was used for the Superior Court and County offices until 1970. Plans were to tear the building down, however , the Haralson County Historical Society petitioned the courts to preserve this historic landmark. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.The beautiful old building is constructed of brick with interior walls of plaster which are from sixteen inches to twenty-two inches thick. The clock in the tower was installed in 1897 and had a horseshoe movement, run by weights and pendulums until it was later converted to electricity.Many interesting and elaborate terra-cotta designs are incorporated into the exterior of the building, including two fire-breathing faces on either side of the main entrance.

The first restoration phase was focused on the one hundred foot bell tower which housed the original clock and truly defines the character of the structure that is listed in both the Georgia and National Historical Registries. Due to severe deterioration, which was worsened by the effects of Hurricane Opel in 1995, much of the replication work had to be accomplished from photographs. A detailed inspection was used to develop a restoration strategy that included the evaluation of wood and metal types that would ensure exact compatibility. An intricate scaffolding system was erected to ensure worker safety. Structural wood framing was restored and painted. Copper sheet metal was restored where possible and replicated when deemed necessary. The slate roof was replaced. Exterior masonry was carefully cleaned, tuck pointed, and restored. A pigeon control system was installed to complete the first phase of the project in May, 2000.

Phase 1 (Bell Tower) January 2000 - May 2000
Structural Wood Framing Restoration Slate Roofing
Sheet Metal Restoration (Copper) Tuckpoint and Masonry Restoration
Clean Exterior Masonry

The second phase of the project was the restoration of the exterior of the building. Again, a restoration strategy was developed. The plan was developed with future interior restoration in mind to guarantee that these projects could be easily implemented. The restoration of the exterior was begun in November, 2000. The structure was stabilized. Exterior masonry was cleaned, restored and tuck pointed. Extensive restoration was performed on the roof system of the main building. Copper sheet metal was restored or replicated, slate roofing was replaced and one section was covered with a modified roof system. Terra cotta was replicated and replaced. Exterior wood was painted. Other wood working included the replication and replacement of some windows. Stone was relayed. We also performed some interior finish carpentry and made selected electrical improvements before the project was completed in July, 2001. Though the project was six hundred miles from our home base, it was completed exclusively with our own employees. Our site foreman and assistant foreman were on site every day. Their day-to-day management of the project allowed normal business activity to carry on within the courthouse. Given the amount of special and custom material fabrication, these people utilized the restoration strategy to their advantage by forecasting and ordering materials that allowed the project to stay on schedule and held change orders to a minimum.

Phase 2 (Main Building) November 2000 - July 2001
Rough Carpentry Stone Relayment
Sheet Metal Restoration (Copper) Terra Cotta Restoration
Slate Roofing Exterior Paint
Structural Stabilization Selective Interior Finish Carpentry Selective Wood Window Replication and Replacement
Tuckpoint and Masonry Restoration Modified Roof System
Clean Exterior Masonry

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For more information regarding the restoration of Haralson County

Courthouse contact:
Architect
Office of Jack Pyburn
1197 Peachtree St.
Atlanta, Ga 30361
(404) 685-9015