The final, and perhaps most prominent, piece of the restoration of Dallas County's Old Red Courthouse was completed Thursday June 28 when the lantern - the topmost portion of the building's cupola - was hoisted into place by crane. The 36 foot tall structure brings Old Red's height from sidewalk to the top of the finial to 209 feet. The lantern was manufactured and will be installed by Campbellsville Industries of Campbellsville, Kentucky, which specializes in the design fabrication of cupolas and steeples. The aluminum and steel structure includes a lightning protection system.
Campbellsville is no stranger to work on historic Texas buildings. In addition to work on the clock towers of the Milam, Wharton and Bell County courthouses, the company fabricated and installed the ornate copper spires to the Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dallas. With the addition of the lantern, Old Red will appear for the first time in 87 years as M.A. Orlopp, the buildings original architect, designed it. The original tower was removed in 1919 after parts of the towers stone and mortar began to crumble and the structure was weakened. The Sunday Times Herald reported that the demolition was one of the most dangerous undertakings ever dealt with in Dallas.
Final work on the clock tower should be completed by the end of July.
In 2004, the State of Texas/Texas Historical Commission granted $3.5-million support for the Old Red Courthouse restoration. Additional funds were needed to complete the cost of the clock tower restoration, and were approved by the Dallas County Commissioners Court in 2004.