The landmark that once defined Tennessee High School’s place on the Bristol skyline is once again complete.
During recent roof repair work at Tennessee High School, crews discovered an opening at the top of the school’s cupola—a hole that revealed something missing from the building’s original design. According to Chief of Maintenance Curt Rutherford, original 1936 blueprints stored in the BTCS Maintenance Office confirmed what had once been there: an eight-inch, gold-leafed copper finial crowning the cupola.
“I had no idea when it disappeared or what happened to it,” Rutherford said. “But when we looked closely, you could see the cup it had once sat in. That verified it—there really was something missing.”
Rediscovering the Original Design
The discovery came as part of a larger roof restoration project that included replacing rotten trim, repainting, and restoring the cupola’s original woodwork. While the roof itself, a solid copper structure, remained sound, years of weathering had taken a toll on the surrounding details.
“I started searching to see if we could possibly get that finial replaced,” Rutherford explained. “The plans we have show an eight-inch finial ball finished in gold leaf. That’s how we knew exactly what belonged there.”
The design, he noted, was typical of its era: a spun-copper ball finished with 23-karat gold leaf, chosen not for luxury but for durability. “Gold leaf is extremely long-lasting—it was just the right material for the time.”
A Handmade Restoration
Rutherford began contacting companies that specialize in copper work and weather vanes before ultimately finding a match in W. F. Norman Corporation of Missouri, a historic, family-run firm known for handcrafted architectural metalwork.
Using Tennessee High’s 1936 blueprints, the company fabricated the finial by hand, replicating its original design and finish. The new piece features a custom copper mounting plate and brass fittings engineered to prevent corrosion between metals and ensure a watertight installation.
“It’s not something you can buy off the shelf,” Rutherford said. “It’s handmade and hand-finished—just like the original would have been.”
Plans also include new accent lighting that will illuminate the cupola at night, allowing the finial to shine as a visible landmark across Bristol once again.
“I think it’ll be really special,” Rutherford said. “You can see the top of Tennessee High from all over town if you know where to look. Once it’s lit at night, people will notice it again.”
Honoring History While Looking Ahead
Rutherford said restoring the finial represents more than just a finishing touch—it’s symbolic of the district’s ongoing commitment to preserving Tennessee High’s architectural legacy while updating its facilities for modern learning.
“It feels like restoring the finishing touch to one of Bristol’s most recognizable landmarks,” he said. “That building is such an icon for our community, and it deserves to look the way it was meant to look.”
In recent years, BTCS has completed numerous projects at Tennessee High that balance preservation with modernization. Major updates include: the Stone Castle renovation, completed in 2024 after a decade of phased improvements, modernized the press box and both the home- and visitor-side seating while maintaining the structure’s original concrete and stonework; updated restrooms, LED lighting, and secure entryways, enhancing both safety and efficiency; renovations to classrooms and specialized spaces, including welding and CTE areas, a new teacher lounge, school store, and Friendship Career Center upgrades; modernized athletic facilities, from jumbotrons and field lighting to improved ADA accessibility.
Each project, Rutherford said, has been guided by a philosophy of respect for history. “You can’t keep everything the way it was in the 1930s, but we always try to honor the original intent,” he explained. “From the outside, the building still looks like Tennessee High. That’s important.”
Principal Kim Kirk agreed, noting that the school’s restoration and renovation efforts are about far more than aesthetics.
“Tennessee High is more than a school—it’s a symbol of pride for generations of Vikings,” Kirk said. “Each project, from the cupola to the classrooms, reflects our ongoing commitment to preserve that legacy while continuing to create spaces where students can thrive.”
A Legacy of Craftsmanship
Funded through the district’s capital-projects budget, the finial restoration ties together Tennessee High’s past and present—bridging nearly 90 years of craftsmanship, pride, and community identity.
“Tennessee High is our flagship,” Rutherford said. “Every improvement we make there reflects the pride and craftsmanship that have defined the school for generations.”
Director of Schools Dr. Annette Tudor said the restoration embodies both pride in heritage and commitment to progress.
“This restoration is a beautiful reminder that excellence endures,” Dr. Tudor said. “As we preserve the history of Tennessee High, we also reaffirm the values it represents—pride, perseverance, and a deep connection between our schools and our community. The work may be on the building, but the meaning reaches far beyond it.”
Now that the newly crafted finial has taken its place atop the cupola, the project stands as a tribute to both the school’s history and the vision guiding its future—a careful restoration of a detail long lost, now gleaming once again above Bristol.
