Cass County Historic Courthouse honored with handmade gift

What appears to be a typical American flag located on the first floor of the Cass County Historic Courthouse in Cassopolis is actually a tribute to not only America, but Cass County and the historic courthouse itself.

Viewers will see what Cass County calls iconic details within the red, white, and blue, 13-stripe, 50-star flag displayed in a wood frame. According to the county, the flag pays homage to multiple eras of “Cass County’s most iconic structure.”

The flag was presented Thursday, December 19, during the final Cass County Board of Commissioners meeting of 2024. ELITE Companies, the general contractor that led the renovation of the historic courthouse, presented the handmade flag. It is pieced together using artifacts saved from the building.

“This is a token of our appreciation for letting us be the facilitators of your renovation,” said ELITE Superintendent Jeff Copenhafer, who took the lead on crafting the piece.

The white stripes that line the flag came from a hose that was part of a fire suppression system installed in the 1970s. The frame itself is made from the balusters, the handrail of the old courthouse, which completed its renovation in October.

“From the onset, there was such an overwhelming history we needed to recognize and respect,” Senior Project Manager Jack Whitman said. “The structure itself is a testament to building practices that have now become cost prohibitive. People don’t construct limestone buildings anymore!”

In early 2023, ELITE had a shipping container delivered to the site that was dedicated to storing and preserving artifacts, materials and furniture from the historic building, Cass County stated. Although the 125-year-old building experienced significant modernizations during renovation, it was decided to preserve as many aspects as possible.

“On the third floor, three chairs from the original courtroom have been restored. Outside the Treasurer’s office, guests can view a restored railing and ornate sconce alongside old photos. Beams of exposed brick stand next to a new staircase, and original tin ceilings have been restored in the public vault in the Clerk/Register’s office,” Cass County stated.

Whitman said it was hard not to be in awe of the building.

“The ELITE superintendents and I knew we had to preserve something to gift back to the residents of Cass County. … [Copenhafer’s] 25-plus years of carpentry experience drove it home to the beautiful art that now hangs on the first floor near the Veterans Affairs office,” Whitman said.

ELITE President and CEO Jim Feltch is proud of his team’s efforts, calling them an example of the company’s dedication to serving the communities in which they work.

“ELITE is drawn to the nonprofit sector for many reasons; perhaps the primary reason is the dedicated and passionate people who pride themselves on serving in the community,” he said. “As a company, our culture represents purpose for our clients and to one another. It is purpose that fuels our efforts and determination to set ourselves apart in a complex industry. There is nothing better than a completed project that was done safely and brings positivity to the clients and communities we serve.”

Cass County District 1 Commissioner Ryan Laylin, who served on the work group that guided the project, awarded challenge coins Monday to Whitman and Copenhafer as thanks for the initiative and hard work on both the flag and the renovation project.

“It shows the ‘test of time,’” Laylin said. “The last major renovation was in the mid-seventies. Now some of the pieces will live on through this piece. This building has been discussed for over 20 years, deciding the use or future purpose. The right players were finally in the game to get it done and it is magnificent. I’d like to thank ELITE Companies, PlazaCorp and Intersect Studio for their dedication and due diligence regarding our historic courthouse.”

Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.