Community update from KCF: Courtroom an epic preservation project

"Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well-wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country, and never to tolerate their violation by others."

Abraham Lincoln spoke these words as part of his "Address Before the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Ill." in January 1838. One of his earliest published speeches calling out the sacredness of rule of law, Lincoln delivered this speech when he was just 28 years old, 23 years before he became President.

This same statement is etched in gold leaf encircling the upper walls of the Kenosha County Ceremonial Courtroom —now only partially visible by gazing through an antiquated air conditioner installation, plaster dust and a partially removed dropped ceiling panel array.

Here we are in November 2024, and as part of National Community Foundation Week, I see that 185 years have passed since Lincoln spoke those eloquent words and it has been just about 100 years since those words were etched in gold leaf onto the walls of the Kenosha County Ceremonial Courtroom. And it's been just over three years of daily fundraising work that this epic historical preservation project has proven successful!

I am honored to report (and sing praises) on behalf of a broad and diverse community of support that will now be bringing back into the light of day the fully restored stained glass ceiling and gilding.

Through the visionary and committed leadership of Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman, the Kenosha County Board, the Kenosha Community Foundation and well over 100 financial and non-financial contributors, the restoration project is now fully funded and will be undertaken over the next two years to essentially (re)gift the architectural and artistic integrity of this awe-inspiring, hidden treasure.

As the Kenosha County Ceremonial Courtroom restoration project's fiscal sponsor, the foundation is beyond impressed by the strength and spirit of the community that rose to the call of philanthropy — sharing the gifts of wealth and responding in love for others past-present-future. Private wealth for public good.

The fundraising campaign co-chairs have been Judge Mary K. Wagner and former county executive John Collins, both of whom were joined by a committed volunteer committee of diverse talents. To these individuals and organizations, particularly to Judge Wagner, the project's matriarch who poured her heart and soul into the project and left all of us now a visual demonstration of her awesome and indelible local legacy, let's raise a glass!

Amy Greil is executive director of the Kenosha Community Foundation.