TROY, N.Y. -- One of Troy's most historic rooms is temporarily closed after significant structural damage.
"It got to the point where it couldn't hold it anymore, gravity took over, and it fell to the floor," said Wayne Bonesteel, Rensselaer County's Engineer.
After a partial ceiling collapse, the ceremonial room at the Rensselaer County Courthouse is now looking more like a demolition site.
"It's concerning because it is an old building and we want to keep it intact," Bonesteel said.
He explained that internal structural damage is most likely centuries old.
"The material that fell out of the ceiling is dry so there wasn't any active roof leak or any water damage that was recent."
First erected as a Presbyterian church in the 1830s, the historic building was later acquired by the county and remodeled in 1913 for high profile cases and ceremonies drawing large crowds.
"It's a building that's widely recognized as being one of the best courthouses from an architectural standpoint in New York State," said Jack Waite of John G. Waite Associates, Architects.
And officials want to keep it that way. Bonesteel said the room will be closed until restorations are complete.
"From an engineer's perspective we need to do what we need to do to make it safe for people to be in here."
The work won't affect other courthouse operations, and should ensure future use of the building.
"Oh yes, good for centuries to come," said Waite.