Accomack County courthouse to undergo repairs

After hundreds of years of hearings and cluttered office spaces, the historical Accomack County courthouse is need of major repairs.

The historic building dates back to the 1800s and had significant repairs during the 1960s and the 2000s, according to officials.

"A lot of people see [the courthouse] as a focal point because it's one of the largest buildings there in the center of Accomac, which is the seed of our county government," said the Deputy Administrator of Public Works and Facilities, Stewart Hall. 

"So, it's an important symbol there, and we want to do everything we can to preserve it," said Hall. 

The old courthouse needs about 1 million dollars in repairs, according to officials. 

They say it's getting too much moisture inside, causing leaky roofs and plaster deterioration. There are also holes in some of the walls and windows and doors are not working properly. 

Major repairs include replacements of roofs and gutters and fixing the bell tower. 

Hall says contractors are expected to start working this year and the building will remain open during construction. The entire project will take several years to finish. 

Accomack County currently has only 380,000 dollars to get a head start on the roof repairs. But, historic grants are expected to fill in the rest of the gap. 

According to a recent assessment report, the courthouse is in sound structural conditions; however, its damages need to be fixed to keep the building well preserved.