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Spotsylvania Historical Foundation Inc. is selling
Janet Roberts (right) of Spotsylvania purchases a Spotsylvania Courthouse ornament from Bob Kurtinitis and |
HRISTMAS MAY PROVIDE a boost to the Old Jail in Spotsylvania County.
The Spotsylvania Preservation Foundation Inc., the nonprofit group established to preserve the county's historical sites, is selling ornaments to help fund the ongoing restoration of the pre-Civil War jail.
The ornament, a three-dimensional brass replica of the Spotsylvania Courthouse, is the first of its kind to commemorate the county's heritage, said Bob Kurtinitis, chair of SPFI's fund-raising committee.
"The purpose is twofold," said Caroline Hayden, advocacy chairperson for the group and member of the bricks and mortar committee. "It is a fund-raising activity, but we're also interested in highlighting the historic structures in the county."
The decision to use the courthouse was an obvious one, she said.
"We're trying to develop the courthouse as a destination," she said "It's the county seat, and the courthouse has a lot of history to it. Everything just pointed to that building."
The organization hopes to represent historic properties in the county on ornaments in the future, she said.
The idea is not a new one. The Historic Fredericksburg Foundation Inc. has been selling pewter ornaments of the city's historic sites since 1980, said Kitty Farley, director of operations. The ornaments also benefit preservation projects in the city.
The Spotsylvania ornament was designed by Goldmarks Inc., in Williamsburg, said Kurtinitis.
They created the 24-karat gold-finished tree-hanging that has "Spotsylvania Courthouse" written across the top and the date of construction, 1839, on the bottom, Kurtinitis said.
The response so far has been good, he said. He estimates they have sold more than 500 ornaments.
Sales of the $15 tree hanging will directly profit the jail, he said.
The two-cell jail, built in 1855 that sits at the intersection of Courthouse and Brock roads at Spotsylvania Courthouse, is currently undergoing phase one of a three-phase makeover, Kurtinitis said. They have finished architectural reviews and installed crack monitors in the building, he said.
"The first phase deals with the exterior and keeping water away from the foundation. We'll work from the outside and move to the inside," Hayden said.
The project could take as long as seven years because the group must raise money, she said.
SPFI hopes to restore the structure, which was used as a jail until 1943, to house a museum, Hayden said.
"Before we can open a museum, you have to have your climate controlled for exhibits, including prisoner graffiti still visible on the walls," she said.
The ornament will be for sale at the Old Jail from 1 to 4 p.m., Dec. 14, during the Spot-sylvania Parade.
The ornament also is for sale at the Spotsylvania Museum, Spotsylvania Visitors Center at Massaponax, at the Courthouse Cafe, Civil War Life Museum and the Treasurer's Department at the Holbert Building. They also are available by mail by calling Bob Kurtinitis at 582-8017 or on the Web site, www.spfi.com.
