 As time has passed , renovations and updates have been made to the courthouse and surrounding grounds . However , the courthouse exterior has retained its original form . Many of the nearby buildings , which were also built in the 1890s , also retain much of their original form . In 1940 , the hitching racks around the courthouse square were removed , as automobiles had replaced horses as the preferred mode of transportation . Parking meters were added to the square in 1952 . The building 's stone exterior was refreshed by a sandblasting treatment in 1963 . Exterior spotlights were added during the 1980s . The latest project to refurbish the courthouse moved forward during 2010 . On December 6 , 2010 , the county commissioners decided to proceed with a courthouse preservation project that was estimated to cost in excess of $ 325 @,@ 000 . 
