Checked out the old courthouse in Springfield and the trim work is wild

I had a job nearby and walked through the historic courthouse downtown. The crown molding in the main courtroom is something else. It's not just a simple profile, it's built up from maybe seven or eight separate pieces, all mitered and scribed around these huge arched windows. The joints are so tight you can barely see them, and this place has to be over a hundred years old. It made me think about how they did that without a track saw or a digital angle finder. The whole room is oak, and the finish is still deep and rich. Has anyone worked on restoring something like that? I'm curious what the process is for matching and fitting those complex built-up profiles.

2 comments

2 Comments

river_hart1814h ago

That trim @price.alice mentioned, how do you even start to copy a profile like that?

price.alice21h ago

Oh man, that trim work sounds amazing. It reminds me of this old library I visited where the plaster ceiling medallions were just insane, like wedding cakes. Makes you appreciate the patience they had.