Local artist and Chenango County Historian Henry J. Drexler, Chenango County Court Judge Hon. Frank B. Revoir, Jr., and Chenango County Court Attorney Claudette Y. Newman, Esq. with one of Drexler's paintings now on display in the Chenango County courtroom at the Eaton Center. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

NORWICH — The paintings of local artist and Chenango County Historian Henry J. Drexler are now on display in the Chenango County courtroom at the Eaton Center.

Included in the display are Drexler's acrylic paintings of local barns, cows, Madison County wind turbines, and scenic landscapes in the Adirondack Mountains.

"I grew up here in Chenango County, Smyrna, and so I had an affinity for the local landscape in particular, and since I grew up on a farm, I also have an affinity for cows," said Drexler. "The focus of my stuff is on local areas, but we do vacation up in the Adirondacks on Raquette Lake, so I’ve done paintings throughout the Adirondacks."

Chenango County Court Judge Hon. Frank B. Revoir, Jr. said county court was moved to the Eaton Center in 2014, and although the new courtroom looks nice, it's had empty walls since then.

"Even though it’s a beautiful courtroom, they did a great job, it’s still always been very stark," he said. "And as we all know, courtroom experiences can be not pleasant, and they can be intimidating just walking in. I mean, with all of the decor and the lighting and everything about it, it can be frightening, if you will, and unsettling."

For the past two years, Revoir and Chenango County Court Attorney Claudette Y. Newman, Esq. have been discussing brightening the space with some local artwork.