OLD THINGS By Jim Redwine

Gavel Gamut

By Jim Redwine

(Week of 13 July 2015)

OLD THINGS

I saw a photograph of an antique judge’s bench in the Mt. Vernon Democrat along with an article in which my friend and Posey County historian, Ray Kessler, gave his opinion the bench had once been in the Posey County Courthouse.

Mt. Vernon Mayoral Assistant and my friend, Sherry Willis, was quoted as calling for ideas as to how the old item could be saved and maybe reused. It had to be moved due to the construction of a new City Hall.

I called my friend, Mt. Vernon Mayor John Tucker, and suggested this piece of Posey County history should be returned to the courthouse. John was enthusiastic and helpful. He and Sherry invited me to go view the bench and the other courthouse furnishings that had once been used for city council meetings on the top floor of city hall.

My Chief Probation Officer and friend, Rodney Fetcher, and I went to city hall and observed the antique judge’s bench, the old attorneys podium, three audience benches and the bar that once divided the judge and attorneys from the public.

Sherry and my friend and Mt. Vernon City Councilman, Bill Curtis, showed the items to Rod and me. They suggested the city would move the items to a staging area in the new city hall where Posey County could have them repaired and refinished. Then they could be returned to the courthouse to be used as an alternative courtroom when the regular one was in use and another hearing needed to be held by another judge.

Bill used to be the court administrator for former Judge Steve Bach in the Posey Circuit Court. During that time Bill was instrumental in helping to preserve numerous items of antique furniture we still use every day.

Posey County has had six courthouses, five for the first 60 years and our current courthouse for 139 years: the first was Absolom Duckworth’s living room (1815 for county organization); a one room log cabin in Caborn (1816); a fine two story structure in Springfield (1817-1825); a one room log structure on our current court campus (1826 while the first regular Mt. Vernon courthouse was being built); the first brick courthouse in Mt. Vernon (1827-1876); and our current courthouse (1876 to today).

Ray suggested the furniture probably was loaned or given to Mt. Vernon by our county government when the furniture we now use was bought (1892/1893). This is a logical assumption. And, it is my opinion the furniture probably was made by some talented Posey County (German) craftsmen for the 1817 Springfield courthouse and moved to the 1826 courthouse before being replaced by the 1892 courtroom furniture.

I base this on the style and on my knowledge of the frugality and wisdom of Posey County’s Commissioners and Council from 1815 to today. It is difficult for me to believe Posey County would have abandoned fine, almost new, furniture.

Also, as my friends, John, Sherry, Bill, Ray and Rodney might say, my opinion may have been formed when I was at the Springfield Courthouse as the items were being moved to Mt. Vernon.