A Promenade Night

To Promenade:  1:  a leisurely walk or ride especially in a public place for pleasure or display.

Have you ever officially taken a promenade?  Well, neither had I until last night for the Promenade and viewing of the Coweta County courthouse renovation.  I talk alot here in this little blog about being a Mother, Artist and Art Educator.  I kind of leave the details of being a Representative's wife out....after all it really has nothing to do with my being an artist.  But last night's event was SO fun and such a unique experience I just couldn't wait to share it with you! 

We live in a beautiful county just south of Atlanta called Coweta.  Atlanta is close enough to enjoy, but far enough away to make our community still quaint and unique.  Newnan is actually dubbed "The City of Homes".  Man, they are not kidding.  Some of the older homes in our community are unbelievable.   Another monument in our community is the original courthouse built in 1904.   See here from last night:

For the past several years our courthouse has undergone a head to toe renovation.  And last night was the preview party.  I was completely blown away at its' beauty.  I'd been in the courthouse prior to the renovation for this and that but had never really paid attention to any of the details.  And perhaps this was because most of the details had been masked under years of paint, heavy drapes and years of wear and tear.  Here's an example of two details to drool over:  an original doorknob polished up to its' original glory and a faux finish that as an artist gives me chills.  Yep.  ALL the wood grain affects you are going to see in later pictures were completed by a team of 4 master faux painters.  Seriously folks....it is captivating that they can make pine look like more expensive oak.   You see, it was cheaper to use pine and faux finish back in the day.  It's the details like this that in the restoration were not missed.  In fact, the courtroom looks exactly like it did in 1904-  the cork floor, the faux wood finishes, the green paint color, the original tin ceiling tiles, the seats in all areas....  all either refinished or reproduced to a tee.  A step back in time that as a resident now of this county for 15 years makes me just flat out tingly.    They used photos, science, and some plain old unearthing of the details to restore the building.

So here we are all decked out for the evening's activities.  It was a wonderful plan....you made reservations for one of 6 restaurants around the courthouse that had a set menu.  At about 8PM we all left the restaurants and "promenaded" to the courthouse for the tour.  There was live jazz on the east and west balconies.  There was dessert on the lawn.  There were story tellers in historical costumes.  And the weather was perfect!  I'm telling you, the committee that organized the event left no detail out.  I am so glad we decided to attend (it was a $100 a head btw....not a freebie thing).

One last view for you....as a person who has always LOVED historical preservation this evening was truly magical.  And I am so proud that our community deemed it important to take this iconic landmark to its' original grandeur.  So what will take place in here now?  The welcome center has been moved to the first floor and the courtroom will be used for Probate court.  I may just have to stop in more often though and breath in the historical ambiance.  Man if those walls could only talk........