Historic Electric Floor Lamp Returned To State Capitol Tuesday

Missing for more than a half century, an historic piece of the Oklahoma State Senate was returned to the Capitol Tuesday afternoon.

The original 1917 electric floor lamp stayed in place until sometime in the 1950s.

The large lamp was returned to the Oklahoma Senate through a twist of events. Coy Green purchased the lamp in the 1970s at a swap meet for about $25. He planned to use it in his back yard but it ended up sitting in a shed at the Green's house.

He first thought it could be something more important than an ordinary lamp after hearing about the discovery of several original sconces found in an attic space at the Capitol.

Sure enough, it was one of the original lamps used in the Oklahoma Senate that can be seen in old pictures.

The plan now, according to Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, is to have an architecture firm refurbish the lamp so it can be re-installed in the Senate Chamber.

There may also be plans to reproduce the lamp so they can bring history back into the chamber. The same will be done with the eleven sconces.

The Greens said they were happy to return the lamp because it belongs in the Capitol where people can see and appreciate the history of Oklahoma.