Judges, lawmakers welcome new Lewis County courthouse

LOWVILLE — "This is one of the finest courthouses New York state has seen, at least in the last 10 years."

So said Judge James C. Tormey III, administrative judge for the Fifth Judicial District, Friday morning during the opening ceremony for Lewis County's $11.5 million courthouse.

About 150 people attended the event in the courthouse parking lot off Trinity Avenue.

The three-story facility, built behind the old one off North State Street, opened for business in June 2008, but much of the exterior work was completed only recently. The project also included about $3 million in renovations to the old courthouse, which is now being used solely as a county office building.

Judge Tormey, a member of the Lowville Elks Lodge, also served as keynote speaker at the May 2007 groundbreaking ceremony.

The Syracuse judge thanked a list of people, beginning with former Legislature Chairman Bruce R. Krug, D-Leyden, and former legislative Buildings and Grounds Committee Chairwoman JoAnn B. Doney, D-Watson, under whom planning for the project started in 2004.

He finished by commending Legislator Jerry H. King, R-West Leyden, the current Buildings and Grounds Committee chairman, for shepherding the project and board Chairman Jack T. Bush, R-Brantingham, and Vice Chairman Richard C. Lucas, R-Barnes Corners, "who embraced this project as their own."

"This is going to serve you for a long time," Judge Tormey said. "Thank you for what you've done."

Other speakers also mentioned the many people, including three sets of county legislators, involved with the project.

"Many people have spent countless hours of hard work to make this day possible," Mr. Bush said.

State Supreme Court Justice Joseph D. McGuire spoke at the ceremony, which was also attended by former judges J. Robert Lynch and John S. Parker and past County Judge George R. Davis.

Following the outdoor portion of the ceremony, a commemorative plaque in the courthouse atrium was unveiled by County Manager David H. Pendergast, Mr. Bush, Mr. Krug and former County Manager Joseph L. Baruth Sr.

Public tours will be available from 9 a.m. to noon today.