News : Benton County Title Grand Re-Opening runs through today from 10-3:00

Chuck Juhl gestures to a brick painted to depict Benton County Title at one stage in its life

If you are fortunate enough you can get a tour of the new/old building that houses the Benton County Title Company. The lone survivor of the fire downtown in February of 2018.

It was a fire most who lived here will never forget. Rooting for the fire department to be able to contain the blaze we all gasped as one after another of the buildings succumbed to the blaze.

The one remaining building on that corner of the block has finally been finished, upgraded, and restored to its original beauty.

As we toured the building Chuck Juhl explained that the wall that adjoined the Fischer building had originally been covered, but due to the smoke and water damage they stripped it down to the brick.

Finding the brick to be more beautiful than sheetrock would be, they left the wall exposed bringing a charm to the room.

Underfoot they discovered as they lifted the damaged carpet to replace, that the floors were a beautiful oak underneath. Deciding that the floors looked better uncovered they refinished the floor which looks like it is something brand new out of the box.

As you look up and at the ceiling, there is a story there of course. The details that were repainted highlight the design carved into the wooden ceiling. A light that never used to work before the fire and was full of water after was removed with a new light to highlight the area.

Also of interest are the floating lights that look like florescent lights, are suspended by cables from the ceiling over the cubicles filling the space.

Upstairs, which means a trip up the fire escape is a relic of the former Dr Olaf Craft whose office was in the Fischer building. A safe which was moved next door many years ago found a home in the new location with the help of "3 men and a boy" said Juhl.

The upstairs of the building used to house doctors offices but are now an apartment for Chuck and his wife as well as office space for others in the building.

As we looked at a case which housed some of the charred bricks from the building, Juhls shared that years ago, a semi had entered the alley next to his building. As it turned out of the alleyway, it took a corner of the front of the building and pulled it out, revealing the front of the place.

Updates to the building had been made to give it a facelift, but after the accident, they removed the facade and left the large french windows open to light the inside of the building. Again, another tragedy that improved the building.

The business has a bulletin board in front that shares the history of the business showing multiple employees and vintage shots of the inside of the building itself.

Take a few minutes out of the day, stop in, grab a cookie and a gift from the table. Tell Chuck that Vinton Today sent you in!

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