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Cupola of New Bedford’s 193-year-old Superior Courthouse gets a makeover
The iconic cupola atop New Bedford’s Superior Courthouse is undergoing a $300,000 rehabilitation to restore it to its 1831 appearance.
NEW BEDFORD — Since 1831, the cupola atop the New Bedford Superior Courthouse has overlooked downtown New Bedford.
To put this in a little historical context, in 1831, Andrew Jackson completed his first term as president of the 24 states of the country; the country’s first political convention was organized by the Anti-Masonic Party; and the New York legislature took the national lead in abolishing imprisonment for debt.
As it approaches its 200th anniversary, the iconic dome is undergoing restoration work as part of overall efforts to rehabilitate the building.
Second oldest operating courthouse in the state
The building was designed in 1828 and constructed from 1830 to 1831. It opened as the Bristol County Courthouse.
Diana Henry, chairwoman of the New Bedford Historical Commission, said in a letter to the Community Preservation Committee supporting restoration efforts that it is the second oldest operating courthouse in the state.
“The courthouse was designed by famed Providence architect Russell Warren, who was a master of the Greek Revival architectural style,” she wrote.
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Replacement materials will be more durable
The dome work is being done by Village Green Restoration of East Falmouth. The design was done by RT Architecture Inc. of Marion.
Village Green Restoration owner Mike Gallagher said the iconic structure atop the building has been restored before, perhaps twice, but not in at least the last 60 years.
He said the wood would be replaced with PVC and fiberglass to make it more durable.
The stately brick building was the site of Bristol County criminal proceedings from 1831 until 2010, when the new Fall River Superior Court opened.
The building, which is owned by Bristol County, is still used for civil business today.
Rehabilitation work was absolutely necessary
Bristol County Facilities Superintendent Tammy Moutinho said the $300,000 restoration of the dome is badly needed.
“It was falling apart. There wasn’t much left,” she said.
The project began this summer and should be completed well before the end of the year.
The dome included a bell which was once rung to announce criminal verdicts and to start the day, but this feature is not restored.
The courthouse roof was recently replaced by RGB Architects of Providence, and rehabilitation work on the building’s facade will be carried out following the dome project.
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Andrew Barkley, a principal with RGB Architects who specializes in historic rehabilitations, said the building has remained a superior courthouse throughout its history.
“One of the most fascinating aspects I discovered while researching it is that it remained a superior courthouse throughout its existence. It is one of the oldest superior courthouses in the states -United still in operation as it was designed and built.”
He added that the roof was representative of the place and time in which it was built. “I’ve been in the attic structure, and the roof structure is built the same way as a ship.”
