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On Sunday, Sept. 16, historical tours of the Fayette County Courthouse will be given from 1 to 3 p.m. The tours are part of Ohio Open Doors, which is “a statewide effort where building and landmark owners and operators open their doors to the public for special tours and programs,” according to information from the Ohio History Connection.
Paul LaRue, a former history teacher at Washington High School, has volunteered to lead some of the tours. He said the idea of the Open Doors program is “to highlight historic buildings statewide.” According to LaRue, the courthouse is “a really good example of a period building” and “it has a really rich history.”
LaRue said participants in the tour will be shown the bulletholes in the door from an attempted lynching, the beautiful murals that hang at the top floor of the building, historic photos from a tornado that are displayed in a case within the courthouse, and more. The stories behind each of these notable features of the courthouse will be shared during the tours.
Those interested in a tour do not need to sign up beforehand. They can simply stop by the building and either walk through it themselves or participate in a guided tour.
LaRue said he hopes many people will take part in the tours, saying, “We certainly would love the community to come out.”
The tours will take place on the Sunday of the Scarecrow Festival, which will be held Sept. 14 to 16. On Sept. 15, The United Way of Fayette County will host a 5K Walk/Run. The festival will also feature a number of live musical performances from a variety of artists, including Jonalee White and The Late Nite Drivers, featuring Shane Runion, and country music star, John Michael Montgomery.
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