State Fish Hatchery at Old Forge. Courtesy of Town of Webb Historical Assn.
Justice Jack Graham and an inmate worker do insulation work at the Town of Webb courthouse. Photo by Wende Carr
Town of Webb’s remodeled courtroom and justice’s bench. Courtesy photo
The renovation project on the Town of Webb Courthouse on Route 28 in Old Forge began on March 1 under the supervision of Town Justice Jack Graham.
The renovations, which according to Graham will be completed in three phases, one per year, allows physical space for the judges and court clerks to operate while the work is being done.
Every work day, a construction crew from Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy, under the supervision of a corrections officer, travels to Old Forge to work at the courthouse.
Two of the inmates are contractors by trade. Those who aren’t are eager to learn the trade, according to Graham.
“It’s helping them and helping us,” he said.
“It makes my day go better,” said one of the men, who is a union contractor and mason by trade. “I’m used to doing taping and sheetrocking, and it’s better than sitting in the prison.”
Graham expressed gratitude for the work they are doing, saying it wouldn’t have been possible to get this project approved if construction crews had to be contracted for the job.
Phase One, now in progress, started at the bench area. Dark paneling is being replaced with blonde wainscoting up to chair rail height, with a medium shade of green paint above the chair rail.
Kristy Graham Rubyor of Woodgate began her position as Assistant to the Director at the Goodsell Museum in Old Forge on Tuesday, March 26.