For nearly 65 years, Campbellsville Industries has been a staple of Taylor County’s manufacturing landscape. And while its name may be a bit inconspicuous, Campbellsville Industries’ architectural landmarks can be admired in cities and towns across the country and around the world.
From banks, city halls, colleges and universities to shopping malls, parks, national landmarks and beyond, the sites of Campbellsville Industries’ work are as unique and diverse as the products themselves.
As the pioneer of the prefabricated cupola and steeple, Campbellsville Industries has earned the nickname “The Steeple People” over the years. The company’s extensive catalog of products includes cupolas, balustrades, church steeples, signs and crosses, street clocks and clock towers, railings, finials and louvers, as well as cornices, dormers, weathervanes and chimes. Each custom-made work of art is made with the highest level of craftsmanship combined with the latest in technology.
With nearly 20,000 installs in the books, the company’s installation crews log over 500,000 road miles each year. One of its more recent projects entailed the creation of a replica of an 1853 clock tower for the Clark County Courthouse in Winchester, KY. The historically accurate design required meticulous attention to detail. Its dome and finial were covered in 23 ¾ karat gold, a process that took an entire week to put on all 2,556 square inches of gold.
David England, co-owner of Campbellsville Industries and president of sales and marketing, commented on the process saying, “If there’s a single hole or ‘holiday’ in the gold leaf tissue, it has to be patched. I worked from early in the morning until late at night. I did one 10-hour stretch. My shoulders and arms were sore for a week.”
Established in 1955 by the president of the local Campbellsville College, which today is Campbellsville University, the company was created as a practical means of obtaining funds for hard-pressed students. From 1955 to 1965, hundreds of students paid their college tuition by working their way through college while working at Campbellsville Industries.
Fast forward to today and you’ll find a full-time employment base of more than 70 skilled craftsmen, engineers, designers and others that each take pride in having their work on display across the globe. Campbellsville artisans apply their skills in casting, fabricating, spinning and forming to not only create new designs, but also to restore damaged or neglected architecturally historic features.
“We specialize in historic cupola replications, having our cupolas on many churches listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” added England. “We use the same materials and fabrication techniques in our smaller cupolas as we use in our larger cupola designs.”
England credits the hardworking and loyal employees with its long-term success. “The employees at Campbellsville Industries view their work as making history, today. We are proud to have such deep roots in Taylor County, Kentucky, and are looking forward to working with our clients for years to come as we help bring their imaginations to life.”
For more information about Campbellsville Industries, visit www.cvilleindustries.com.