(Left to right) Kathy Wileczek, President of the West Chester Downtown Foundation; Phil Yocum, West Chester Historic Preservation Awards Committee member; and Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell.
WEST CHESTER — Representatives from the West Chester Downtown Foundation and the West Chester Historic Preservation Awards formally presented the Chester County Commissioners with a West Chester Historic Preservation plaque this week, commemorating the rehabilitation and restoration of the interior of the courthouse.
The plaque, created by West Chester-based Smithworks Design Communications, was placed on the front of the Chester County Historic Courthouse to note the special recognition.
Chester County’s efforts to sympathetically restore the interior of courthouse designed by architect Thomas U. Walter in 1846 previously earned a “Bricks and Mortar” award from the West Chester Downtown Foundation. The preservation award committee cited the County’s efforts to rehabilitate the primary symbol of the Borough of West Chester to active and useful service as a courtroom. In addition, the committee noted that the restoration uncovered hidden door frames and architectural details that allowed visitors to see the courthouse as it could have looked in 1847.
This formal presentation of this plaque is one of a number of plaques being placed on properties throughout the Borough of West Chester that have previously won historic preservation awards.
The 2016 winners of the West Chester Downtown Foundation Historic Preservation Awards will be celebrated on Thursday, October 20th at the Chester County Historical Society.
