The Allen County Board of Commissioners approved two agreements Monday to repair decorative scagliola plaster and replace ornamental iron work on the historic Allen County Courthouse.

The board voted to authorize an agreement with N.J. Wiffle for scagliola repairs not to exceed $27,500 and a separate purchase from Stewart Iron Works LLC of ornamental iron caps and related parts for $11,500. Both motions were moved and seconded and carried by voice vote.

The Courthouse Preservation Trust presented the requests. Robin Zimmerman of the trust said the damage is concentrated in the courtrooms and on the third floor, pointing to a large wall panel in front of Room 308 as an example. "When the building was restored, we could not find any craftsmen in the United States," Zimmerman said, describing scagliola as "a lost art form." She added that the Allen County Courthouse holds the largest collection of scagliola in the U.S., after the Library of Congress.

Zimmerman and Madeline Elston, the trust's board president, said the work will generally be spot repairs: "They will actually dig out that crack...repair it with plaster, and then adding the dyes to make it blend in as it looks today," she said, describing the conservator's technique.

On the iron work, the trust requested 50 pairs of replacement plinths (end caps) for the four main entry door surrounds to preserve an "attic stock" for future repairs. Zimmerman said Stewart Iron Works is the original 1902 contractor for the courthouse’s cast iron elements and still holds the molds for the pieces.

Commissioners asked about installation. Zimmerman said the trust will coordinate with county maintenance or hire a contractor the trust has used previously; the current vote funded the purchase of the replacement parts and the repair work, with installation to follow as arranged.

The board did not specify a separate timeline beyond anticipating work during the coming months; no dissent or amendments were recorded.