Morgan County offers pieces of courthouse's past to the public

Story By Kathryn Purcell - Photos By Angelina Bellebuono

Morgan County citizens now have an opportunity to, literally, take a piece of that local history home with them…for a small fee.

The fairly recent completed renovation of the Courthouse, as well as the move of county administration to the old Creamery building, left behind a mass of items – everything from cubicle sets to windows. While much of the office-type furniture was put into re-use by county staff, many of the structural and architectural pieces, as well as other office items and furniture, were not.

“We bought hardly anything when we moved into the [Creamery] building,” Morgan County Special Projects Coordinator Monica Hayden said. “We tried to re-use as much as we could.”

Items were also donated to Morgan Memorial Hospital, the Morgan County Fire Department and Morgan County Middle School, among others.
The surplus items, made obsolete by the renovation, were kept in storage and remained there until room was made in the basement of the Creamery building for the items.

With no use for the leftover items, the county elected to open the basement of the Creamery building up to the public and hold “Morgan County’s Great Garage Sale.”

“We decided to let the people have the first right of refusal because, ultimately, they paid for it,” Hayden said.
County Manager Michael Lamar echoed her sentiment.

“I’m glad we’re opening this up to county residents because they’re the ones who purchase them,” Lamar said.

The sale begins Monday, August 18 and runs through Friday, August 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Anyone looking to outfit an office would do well to stop by the sale, as items up for grabs include a flock of office chairs, filing cabinets, desks, cubicle sets, computers, copiers and electronics, among others.

Items from the historic Morgan County Courthouse, completed in 1906, will also be part of the sale. Window frames and windows, door frames and doors, architectural details, radiators and pavers, from the structure’s downstairs hallway, will be available.

While not out to make a profit, the county did have a local antique dealer gave estimates on many of the items.

Prices range from 50 cents, for office decorations, to $150, for an oak desk. Hayden expressed fielding many questions about the pavers, which will be available for $2 a piece. Also, the windows range in price from $5 to $35.

The county is accepting cash only, and all sales are final, according to Hayden. She will not be holding items unless a deposit is put on them.

Hayden asks that customers park in the nearby deck and come through the entrance to the basement located between the old Creamery building and the Rita Restaurant Corporation building, also where customers will be able to pull up and load items. According to Hayden, directions will be well marked.

When asked what kind of turnout she expected, Hayden wasn’t sure.

“It could be 10; it could be 10,000,” Hayden said.

She admits, however, that many local people seem to value ownership of a piece of what is considered Morgan County’s most notable structure.

“There is a sentimental value to the Courthouse stuff,” Hayden said.

Got questions? Hayden can be reached by phone at (706) 342-0735 or by e-mail at mhayden@morganga.org.