By RONNIE ELLIS
FRANKFORT — The imposing, marble-laden state capitol will see it’s 100th birthday next June and no part of the capitol draws more interest from visitors than the stately rotunda where stand statues of Abraham Lincoln, Henry Clay, Alben Barkley, Ephraim McDowell and Jefferson Davis.
But what isn’t widely known, according to First Lady Jane Beshear, is that original plans called for murals in the rotunda when it was completed in 1910 – but there wasn’t enough money.
Now, thanks to Marion and Terry Forcht of Corbin the murals will be added when restoration painting of the rotunda is complete.
Today, metal scaffolding rises from the marble floors on the first floor 176 feet for workmen to paint the dome. Thursday, the First Lady stood on the capitol mezzanine with the scaffolding as backdrop and – interrupted occasionally by the noise of the workmen high above – and said the Forchts’ gift “is just in time to celebrate our Capitol Centennial Celebration in 2010, but the legacy of these historical murals will continue to be celebrated by so many generations of Kentuckians.”
The First Lady said the Forcht gift “is the largest single donation in the history of the capitol.”
The Forchts own Forcht Bank and the Forcht Group of Kentucky, a management services firm comprised of 95 companies headquartered in Lexington and Corbin.
“Terry and I are proud to have this opportunity to be part of the centennial celebration honoring Kentucky and is beautiful capitol building,” said Marion Forcht. “Kentucky is a state of both opportunity and great beauty.”
The four murals will feature agriculture, industry, civilization and integrity themes. EverGreene Architectural Arts of New York will complete the project. The design is expected to receive final approval from the Capitol Centennial Commission and the Historic Properties Advisory Commission in the next three months and the murals are scheduled to be in place by next June.
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
