A look back into the newspaper for stories of Old Red's earliest days
The fifth facility built to serve as Dallas county courthouse, Old Red was to be made of iron and stone, proof against the fires that struck its predecessors. Construction materials - primarily, their shortage - dominated much of the early discussion from the time construction began.
On October 7, 1891, the Dallas Daily Times Herald reports that parties were tearing up Cockrell and Park streets and selling the sand to contractors for the courthouse
October 20, 1891, the Herald says that in a report to the commissioners, contractors still needed stone. Thus far, they had laid 45,000 brick for the week, and walls were up the on first floor.
January 12, 1892, the News writes that, in a report to county commissioners, the contractor indicated that all walls are now ready for the setting of cornices "but a want of stone for this part of the work will occasion us some further delay," there being insufficient Pecos stone on site to continue the work. Brick masons were building up inside walls, all of which will be finished in two or three days "when I shall place them [the bricklayers] on the main tower of the building."
February 16, 1892, the News announced that the contract for terra cotta work let to Terra Cotta Company of Brightwood, Indiana for $1,895.
Plastering would go to Sonnefield, Emmins and Abright for $14,950
Linoleum, to Sanger Brothers for $1.62 1/2 sq. yd.
Glass and glazing to Henry Hamilton for $11,000 (later for $13,345)
Painting to H. Hamilton for $2,345
The contract for the clock to crown the building went to E. Howard Watch and Clock Company of NY for $3,350
February 23, 1892, The News describes a report to county commissioners that Old Red is ready for the setting of iron frames for all that part of the building with exception of west wing and will require a month to complete that. The east wing will be covered with slate roofing within a month. Fireproofing will be in the roof, and plastering will begin plastering. The courthouse was to be ready for occupancy by June 1 and completed by September 1.
May 5, 1892, a News article details that Charles F. Tucker and Robert E. Burke, along with the county judge, were to select the furniture for the courtrooms as well as the physical location of the rooms. But the judge said he had already done that and had selected northeast corner on the 2nd floor as the county courtroom and the room in the southeast corner as the Commissioner's courtroom. Tucker and Burke protested.
August 2, 1892, The Herald reports that the Dallas city council asked the City Electrician J. M. Oran to see how the city fire alarm system could be connected to the courthouse clock so that the alarm could be heard over the entire city. (No action was taken.)
August 5, 1892, according to the News, the clocktower bell is to be hauled to the 4th floor this morning and put in place as soon as possible. The cost of the bell was $3,500 and the largest in the southwest. The bell is 15' in circumference. (The bell and the clockworks rivaled London's "Big Ben" in quality.)
January 10, 1893, from the Herald, "The finishing touches are being put on the new courthouse, which, when complete, will be the best equipped public building in the state, the state capital always excepted."
January 27, 1893, it is reported by the Herald that a juror, at the dinner hour, wanted to go to the top of the courthouse to see the view. "He went to the top and at a very inopportune moment, for he stumbled onto a young couple under rather distressing circumstances (to them.) The juror fled from the bower and thirty minutes later the other occupants of the 'dizzy heights' came sneaking down and beat a hasty retreat from the temple of justice."