Ribbon-cutting slated to celebrate restoration of Onaway Courthouse
On Saturday, July 2, the Onaway Courthouse Restoration Committee will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of Phase II of the courthouse restoration project.
The Onaway Courthouse, which is included on the state and national historic registers, was constructed in 1908 by Onaway founder Merritt Chandler.
Chandler hoped his building would help entice the relocation of the Presque Isle County seat from Rogers City to Onaway, which was thriving due to the timber industry and a large wooden steering wheel factory.
When that attempt failed, Chandler petitioned the Michigan Legislature to create a new county – Forest – made up of the west end of Presque Isle and the east end of Cheboygan, with Onaway as its seat.
That attempt narrowly failed, leaving Onaway with a grand courthouse, but without a county government to operate within its walls.
THE FACILITY has housed several uses since that time, including, briefly, court proceedings, as well as roller skating in the main courtroom, and a seasonal historical museum.
Over the course of many years, the building fell into a state of disrepair. Falling pieces of masonry made it unsafe, and the lack of a heating system made it unusable for much of the year.
With a shoestring budget, the city had few funds to keep the building safe, much less restore it to its glorious past. It was at this point that a committee came together to look at ways to raise funds for the restoration.
Those funds allowed the exterior masonry and roof to be repaired, new heating, cooling, and electrical systems to be installed, and the main floor of the building restored.
THAT PHASE is just wrapping up, and soo
In addition, a four-sided illuminated clock will be placed in the clock tower within the next few weeks.
The clock will include a carillon system programmed to play hundreds of songs. Patriotic music will play on the Fourth of July. Christmas songs will play during the holidays.
The restoration project has been an exciting one for the residents of the area and those outside who have contributed toward its success. On July 2, they will join to celebrate that success.
The ribbon-cutting will begin at 11 a.m. and will conclude with an open house, during which folks can walk through the courthouse and see what has been accomplished.