The oldest active courthouse in Arkansas, the White County Courthouse, put on a new face for the 1999 holidays. The centerpiece of the annual Holiday of Lights, Searcy’s Courthouse underwent restoration and received an all-new holiday lighting system funded by $10,000 in public donations. The drive was conducted jointly by the Downtown Merchants Association, White County Historical Society and County Judge Bob Parish. The new lights had to conform to guidelines established by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, which has provided more than $100,000 in grants for the restoration and preservation of the Courthouse. The lights, which replaced a 10-year-old system, were installed without drilling holes or otherwise damaging the venerable structure.