DONALDSONVILLE, La. (WAFB) - The roof of a historic building in Donaldsonville suffered ‘significant damage’ during construction, leading to its closure, according to Ascension Parish officials.
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court announced Thursday morning that the Ascension Parish Courthouse on Houmas Street in Donaldsonville would be closed July 9. Officials say the roof was under construction and nearly finished when it collapsed on Wednesday around 7 p.m., while workers were gone for the day.
At this time, the collapse is still under investigation, but it is believed the roof was damaged by a crane during repairs. Officials are awaiting a structural engineer to determine if the building is safe and assess the damage.
The Gonzales office on East Worthey Street is still open for regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The initial cloud of dust falling from a historic courthouse caught the attention of a longtime employee who was walking nearby Wednesday night.
Nell Vaughn, who has worked in the building for 14 years, said she immediately recognized what she was seeing.
“When I looked over, I just noticed a plume of dust coming down from what I knew was the courthouse, and I knew they were working on the building,” Vaughn said.
The historic building has been a staple of the city and the parish since the late 1800s. It has been the backdrop for weddings, justice, and community life.
Vaughn, who has also lived down the block from the building for 20 years, said the structure holds personal significance for her.
“I love this building. I came here years ago for dinner, fell in love with the town. I actually bought a house right on this same block,” she said.
Vaughn said the damaged section leads to the courthouse upstairs. Despite the setback, she remains hopeful about the building’s future.
“It’s heartbreaking, but I’m hopeful because it’s not so massive that I don’t think it’ll return to its finest,” Vaughn said.
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