Historical Society outlines grants to restore Coffee County courthouse hallway and museum spaces

Representatives of the Coffee County Historical Society updated the Capital Outlay Committee Jan. 2 on two grants to restore parts of the county courthouse and improve the nonprofit-run museum inside the building.

Dave Capcutt, who identified himself as a "grama writer for Coffee County," and Bonnie Gamble, volunteer museum curator at the historical society, told the committee they had secured a $150,000 Tennessee Historical Commission grant that begins funding March 1 and requires a 10% local match ($15,000). The Tennessee Historical Commission grant, they said, covers removal of hallway paneling, restoration to plaster walls and returning the floor to wood consistent with the courthouse's historic appearance. The project completion deadline for that grant was reported as Feb. 28, 2026.

Separately, the historical society received a grant through the Tennessee State Museum for ceiling tiles and lighting for the hallway and two museum rooms; Gamble said that museum grant is 100% funded (no local match) and that the ceiling/lighting work must be completed by the end of June. Gamble said the society intends to purchase ceiling tiles and store them until hallway work is completed, because matching stock and patterns can be difficult to replace if delayed.

Speakers discussed historic finishes and research the society had done in archives showing original paint colors and historic flooring. The historical society said it will oversee the museum-funded work directly and obtain quotes for the ceiling and lighting; county staff said they will coordinate on building issues such as electrical and any required county bidding procedures for county-funded work.

The society also raised a potential additional funding opportunity: what they called a "6040" (60/40) grant that could cover assessments and more substantial renovations, including hiring an architect-engineer and potentially funding bathroom renovations and HVAC work. Speakers cited a rough estimate that an assessment might cost about $20,000, with the county's 40% share near $8,000. Committee members cautioned that full renovation estimates can be much larger and emphasized the need to prioritize urgent systems work versus cosmetic restoration.

Committee members and the historical society discussed accessibility and long-term maintenance; staff noted the courthouse is on the National Register and that modernizing bathrooms and mechanical systems will be more complex and costly than the current cosmetic-focused grants.

Bonnie Gamble said the historical society appreciates being housed in the courthouse and that the museum is free to the public. The committee agreed to consider the additional 60/40 grant opportunity and asked staff to follow up about timelines and any required county actions.