By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
A member of Adams County Council drew a round of praise at the recent meeting of Decatur City Council.
John Summers, a member of the county council, pursued a one-man effort effort to finally get a flag flying atop the Adams County Courthouse in Decatur.
“I sure like the great collaboration we had to have” to get the flag in place at the highest point of the splendid structure, Councilman Matt Dyer said.
“It’s a compliment to John Summers, he was determined to make it happen.”
“It sure looks good,” Mayor Dan Rickord added.
The flag went up on the courthouse pole on Monday, June 25. Smith Erectors of Markle finished off the project with its huge, 175-ton crane.
Fuhrman Electric of Decatur replaced a broken spotlight on the roof and installed a remote to raise, lower or bring the flag to half-staff. “It has a dusk-to-dawn switch,” Summers said of the light.
Adams County government approved the use of $9,425.00 to cover the work by Fuhrman. When it was discovered that a roller at the top of the flagpole was worn out, the county and Decatur governments split the $6,600 cost to get Smith Erectors involved.
DATES TO 1873: The courthouse is 152 years old, having been completed in 1873.
It was designed by J.C. Johnson, a self-taught architect.
The construction was done by Christian Boseker of Fort Wayne, built of red brick with stone ornamentation.
The building and three associated objects was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 17, 2008.
The other three are: the Peace Monument, the Elephant Rock (a memorial to Gene Stratton Porter) and the Pioneer Memorial (a bronze plaque and stand from 1936).
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