April 9, 2025
Perry County Courthouse | Tile Hearths

Original Tile Hearths. All dusty, they don’t look like much right now. When we removed the various floor coverings, we discovered throughout the courthouse several long forgotten tile hearths. In the 1880’s, the heating source was coal. There were numerous individual coal stoves used in many rooms to provide heat in the winter. Each one sat on these beautiful tile hearths. We cannot save them all, but we are saving each one where that is possible. You can see them here as we found them. Restored, they will be extremely impressive and part of our history in full view once again.

– Ben Carpenter, Perry County Commissioner
Originally posted to Facebook