Dayhoff Art: DAYHOFF: Clock docs make house call to fix historic Westminster clock tower on Main Street

DAYHOFF: Clock docs make house call to fix historic Westminster ... Explore Carroll By Kevin Dayhoff (Enlarge) Wayne Reifsnider, assistant superintendent for the City of Westminster Street Department, works to replace the hands of the 1896 ...

DAYHOFF: Clock docs make house call to fix historic Westminster clock tower on Main Street Eagle Archives Posted 8/08/10 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle

http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/4596/clock-docs-make-timely-house-call-citys-historic-timepiece/

(Enlarge) Wayne Reifsnider, assistant superintendent for the City of Westminster Street Department, works to replace the hands of the 1896 Westminster town clock in the early morning hours of Aug. 3. Reifsnider was assisting a crew from Precision Repair, a timepiece restoration company, which performed a bit of delicate surgery four stories above Westminster's Main Street as part of an overall restoration project for the historic clock. (Photo by Kevin E. Dayhoff)

In the early morning hours of Aug. 3, the old clock atop the old Westminster fire hall -- which served Westminster from 1896 to 1998 at 66 E. Main St. -- got a brand new shiny pair of hands. The venerable timepiece has been a fixture in town since it was dedicated at 3:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1896.

City of Westminster workers used a crane from Thomas Bennett and Hunter, a local road-building firm; and Dave Booth of Precision Repair, a timepiece restoration firm, to accomplish the delicate surgery performed four stories in the air.

Clock doctor Booth was assisted by Wayne Reifsnider, assistant city Street Department superintendent. Meanwhile, Superintendent Larry Bloom, along with Jeff Glass, the city public works director; and city workers Shawn Lockard and Alan Miller, served as ground support.

Keeping the old timepiece working has been challenging for the city workers in the last number of years.

Miller said it was good to get it worked on, as he looked briefly up at the old clock. Lockard added, “I’m glad that we’re finally getting it fixed.”

[...]

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...http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/4596/clock-docs-make-timely-house-call-citys-historic-timepiece/

When he is not fighting the ravages of time himself, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvICD3mOouw