Anyone stopping by the Brown County Courthouse this past week will have noticed quite a lot of activity around the building, as crews from Hanke Window have been busy replacing the windows in the historic building. According to Brown County Commissioner Margery Paeltz, most of the windows in the courthouse were the ones that were installed when the courthouse was built.

The windows are a part of the recent effort to improve the courthouse, closely following a project to repaint the main pillars in the entry way and a project to replace the courthouse steps. Paeltz said that while the courthouse step project was paid for by the Rumpke Corporation, the windows are paid for by a $30,000 matching grant from the Ohio Department of Development. The window brand is Marvin Window and Door Products.

“It’s more on the historic side of the Department of Development,” Paeltz said. “It usually goes to historic sites, and we use our building every day.”

Paeltz said that Brown County was awarded the grant in December, and finally started receiving funds after Jan. 1. The project was sent out for bids, and then the commissioners waited for a chance to begin the project during a time that would not interfere with the normal courthouse functions.

The Hanke Window company received the contract and began work on installing the new windows during the week of Aug. 24.

“They (the Marvin windows) help keep the historical integrity of the building,” said Mark Hanke.

The project will be completed next week.

Paeltz said the new windows will help to keep the courthouse’s heating and cooling bills down. More on the recent updates at the courthouse will be available following Sept. 12.