A large crowd was present on the courthouse lawn Tuesday morning as the renovated Bradley County Courthouse bell tower was dedicated.
Among those present was Blake Dunn, architect with CADM Architectural of El Dorado; Heather Carter, grant analyst with Arkansas Historic Preservation Program; and Katherine Nash, AHPP technical services.
Top photo: From left, Bradley County Judge Klay McKinney; Heather Carter, grant analyst, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program; Katherine Nash, AHPP technical services; and Blake Dunn, CADM Architectural Co., El Dorado. Photo by the Bradley County Courthouse staff.
By Tim Kessler
Saline River Chronicle Contributor
Members of the audience included Warren Mayor Gregg Reep and Alderwoman Emily Moseley, city and county officials, local bankers, John Little of the Bradley County Veteran’s Museum, and John and JeNelle Lipton.
Bradley County Judge Klay McKinney noted that almost three years ago, on Oct. 6, 2020, he discussed possible renovations to the bell tower with Dunn.
“It took a huge amount of people involved. It had to be done,†he said. Since 2016, over $1 million has been invested in the bell tower and other courthouse projects.
A large portion of the funding came through AHPP grants. “There’s no way we would have come up with our own resources,†McKinney said.
Another pending county project is a new Emergency Services Building which will have over 6,000 square feet and seat up to 300 people. Foundation work has begun on it.
Turning back to the bell tower, McKinney said, “120 years later, it took great architects, engineers, craftsmen to reconstruct it.†He said two county offices had to be moved due to safety issues during the renovation.
Dunn said he had worked on about 120-130 historic reconstruction projects across the state. “I feel historic buildings are the fabric of the community.†He thanked the Quorum Court for its support along with general contractor Diversified Construction Co. of El Dorado.