Courthouse celebration
From left, Susan Key, Rose Semple and Stephanie Sewak prepare for Washington County Bar Association’s upcoming 125th anniversary gala.
Washington County Bar Association President Stephanie Sewak, right, and others get ready for a gala to be held Oct. 20 at Washington County Courthouse.
The interior of the Washington County Courthouse
For one night only, the chambers and halls of Washington County Courthouse will be transformed from a hub of judicial process to a haven of cuisine and entertainment as the Washington County Bar Association celebrates 125 years.
A charity gala will be held the evening of Oct. 20, exactly 125 years after the association’s charter was recorded, as a benefit for the Washington County Bar Foundation.
“The courthouse is the most beautiful venue in Washington County,” said Susan Key, president-elect of the bar association. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see it decorated at night like this.”
The black-tie-optional event, which is open to the public, will feature what organizers are calling a “roving feast” of dining selections, cocktails and live music. A collection of significant Washington County cases, of which publishing costs were paid by past association presidents, will be distributed.
Built in 1900, the courthouse, at 1 S. Main St., Washington, was exalted as a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance-style architecture with its unique dome, marble-lined floors and walls, and immense exterior columns supporting the portico. A local decorator and florist will add fabric, lighting and greenery to the ornate space.
The seven courtrooms and law library will be decorated in themes including Victorian, jazz, big band and mid-century modern eras.
Judge John DiSalle, a saxophonist, will perform with musicians from the Washington Symphony Orchestra.
Outside, a red carpet and Hollywood spotlights will greet guests at the grand staircase of the courthouse.
“We’re doing it up big,” said Kathy Sabol, executive director of the bar association. “There used to be so many large events at the courthouse, but they really don’t have them anymore. This is really going to be a unique opportunity.”
An after-party, with a DJ and dancing, will be held at the George Washington, another historic building.
As a fundraiser for the bar foundation, the gala upholds original charter objectives by “maintaining the honor and dignity of the profession of the law, cultivating social relations among its members and … promoting the due administration of justice,” said Key.
The goal of the association’s capital campaign is to raise $125,000 over three years for the foundation, which provides educational programs and no-cost or low-cost legal services to the community.
To purchase gala tickets, which are $125 per person, call 724-225-6710.