GRAY, Ga. — Jones County started making repairs to their century-old county courthouse Tuesday morning.
According to Jones County Commission minutes the renovations are an emergency situation.
In a July commission meeting, building contractor Warren Selby of Warren Associates shared that the building needed several repairs.
He said there were structural issues, A/C problems, poor air quality, and water damage inside the walls.
Also in the minutes, Superior Court Clerk Pam Dixon says the water puddles had been falling from the ceiling, and the issue was only getting worse.
As those changes begin, 13WMAZ's Megan Western talked to a native who reflects on a building that's seen more than a century of history.
Living in for 69 years, Cecil Ethridge has collected all the Jones County trivia knowledge -- facts like how the first county courthouse was in Clinton, just outside what is now Gray's downtown.
"The citizens there didn't let the railroad come through and the railroad came through Gray, so Gray moved to be close to the railroad, and in doing so, our county seat was moved and established here in 1905," he says.
He says part of Clinton even made its way over.
"The retaining wall that's around our courthouse now used to be the original jail in Clinton," he adds.
He says growing up he spent a lot of time at the courthouse where his dad and other family members worked as tax collectors and county commissioners.
"It's amazing what all was accommodated here," says Ethridge.
He says over time he's seen a lot of changes.
"The jail and the sheriff's department were located right here beside it," he says
He also says the library, post office, and board of education were all in the area and have since moved.
Despite the renovations and moves, he's glad history is always preserved.
"History helps us to build and to move forward, so thank goodness we do have some markers around telling us about the history and who was involved in making all these things happen," he says.
Ethridge believes that these minor renovations allow them to keep properly telling history.
"I think it will work out great because they needed to do some things to the windows and just the outside so at least they are taking it on before it got in disarray," he says.
The courthouse was built in 1905 and it's on the National Register of Historic Places.