It's been a sad, sad spectacle

Preservationists in Seneca County are taking their battle to save the 1884 courthouse to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Good for them - win or lose.

For some reason politicians in the county cannot seem to understand that Tiffin has been identified in people's minds for over a century as home to the grand and historic Heidelberg College and Seneca County's courthouse.

Other Ohio counties have been able to maintain their courthouses throughout the decades while Seneca County officials have allowed theirs to got to pot. About half a century ago instead of renovating the tower on the building - it was replaced with the "ugly" clock tower.

To make the building handicap accessible, an elevator was stuck in the middle of the structure, which ruined its interior grander. When the courthouse needed significant maintenance during the past 20 years, the county commissioners were buying downtown Tiffin buildings instead - some left empty for years.

The old courthouse further fell into disrepair as a new annex building was put up next to it, and the county closed the old lady down waiting to scrap her out.

There is something to be said for a new structure with new technology, but why should we think that county leaders would take any better care of a new courthouse in the next 50 years.