August 3, 2010 Westminster MD clock tower gets new clock hands
Westminster clock tower gets new clock hands
Repairs are part of an ongoing effort to preserve the city timepiece.
August 4, 2010 by Kevin Dayhoff explorecarroll.com
Keeping the old timepiece working has been challenging for the city workers in the last number of years.
The project was part of an ongoing restoration of the clock, which at 114 years of age has indeed suffered the ravages of time. To make matters worse, several years ago a few youngsters broke into the clock tower and vandalized the historic icon of the community.
Although Booth is donating his time, other expenses incurred in the clock repair are being covered by private donations collected by a fund spearheaded by Westminster councilwoman Suzanne Albert.
For more information, please see my Explore Carroll article on the clock tower repairs here:
If you would like to contribute, send a donation to the Westminster Clock Tower Fund at the Community Foundation of Carroll County, 255 Clifton Boulevard, Westminster, Md. 21158.
In the early morning hours of last Tuesday, the old clock, which sits atop the old fire hall which served our community from 1896 to 1998 at 66 E. Main Street in Westminster, got a brand new shiny pair of hands.
The venerable old timepiece has been a fixture in the center of town since the clock was dedicated at 3:30 in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1896.
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On November 17, 2008, a group of clock historians from Chapter 11 of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors visited the old clock and did an assessment of the clock's condition.
Westminster city workers teamed-up with a huge crane from Thomas Bennett and Hunter and Dave Booth of Precision Repair, a timepiece restoration company, to take care of the delicate surgery four stories in the air.
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Clock doctor Booth was assisted in the operation high above Main Street by Wayne Reifsnider, the assistant city street department superintendent. Street department superintendent Larry Bloom, Jeff Glass, the city public works director, and city workers Shawn Lockard and Alan Miller served as ground support.
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On the sidewalk below the clock, the assistant city street department superintendent Wayne Reifsnider, and David Booth of Precision Repair, a timepiece restoration company, were busy sorting through brand new clock hands and safety belts.
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Moments later, a Thomas Bennett and Hunter crane arrived and city workers Shawn Lockard and Alan Miller joined Reifsnider as they set-up the crane and attached a steel cage on the end of a cable.
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Written and filmed by Kevin Dayhoff for explorecarroll.com.
With editorial assistance by Jim Joyner and Charles Schelle
All rights reserved by Kevin Dayhoff and explorecarroll.com.
August 3, 2010
20100803 Wster clock tower
Westminster Maryland history Seth Thomas National Association Watch Clock Collectors Dayhoff
Keeping the old timepiece working has been challenging for the city workers in the last number of years.
The project was part of an ongoing restoration of the clock, which at 114 years of age has indeed suffered the ravages of time. To make matters worse, several years ago a few youngsters broke into the clock tower and vandalized the historic icon of the community.
Although Booth is donating his time, other expenses incurred in the clock repair are being covered by private donations collected by a fund spearheaded by Westminster councilwoman Suzanne Albert.
For more information, please see my Explore Carroll article on the clock tower repairs here:
If you would like to contribute, send a donation to the Westminster Clock Tower Fund at the Community Foundation of Carroll County, 255 Clifton Boulevard, Westminster, Md. 21158.