Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems

Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems - www.kevindayhoff.com Address: PO Box 124, Westminster MD 21158 410-259-6403 kevindayhoff@gmail.com Runner, writer, artist, fire & police chaplain Mindless ramblings of a runner, journalist & artist: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, technology, music, culture, opera... National & International politics www.kevindayhoff.net For community: www.kevindayhoff.org For art, technology, writing, & travel: www.kevindayhoff.com

Friday, September 03, 2010

Repairs are part of an ongoing effort to preserve Westminster MD timepiece.

Repairs are part of an ongoing effort to preserve the city timepiece.

August 4, 2010  By Kevin Dayhoff







There are three versions of my story on the Westminster clock tower.

One, a long and comprehensive story, was published only on the Explore Carroll website at: http://www.explorecarroll.com/opinion/4596/clock-docs-make-timely-house-call-citys-historic-timepiece/  It mentions councilwoman Albert’s work and where folks may contribute to the clock tower fund.

An excerpt may also be found on my Westminster community website: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2010/08/dayhoff-clock-docs-make-house-call-to_10.html

There was a short version published in my Sunday history column, “Archives,” that appears in the Baltimore Sunday Sun.  It only appeared in the print version of the newspaper.

Then, there is a much longer version of the piece that was submitted, but edited a good bit for length.  I will eventually put that on my website… here:

A YouTube of the event may be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvICD3mOouw


~~~~~~~~~

In the early morning hours of Tuesday morning, Main Street of Westminster was relatively quiet, with the exception of Westminster street department superintendent Larry Bloom, and Jeff Glass, the city public works director standing on the sidewalk across the street from the old firehouse at 66 E. Main Street in Westminster and looking up into the sky.

Was it a bird, a plane – superman?  Well no, they were staring at the old clock which sits atop the old fire hall - which served our community from 1896 to 1998.

After the fire company moved to its new location on John Street in 1998 and the building was sold, the city retained ownership of just the clock and the clock tower which sits on top of the three-story building that once housed the Westminster city offices until the late 1930s, in addition to the fire company.

A plaque at the base of the clock tower reads: “Henry Baile; Born January 9, 1809; Died October 26, 1891.  The above clock erected to his memory by his wife Margaret Cassell Baile Sept. 1, 1896.”

A newspaper article from January 1896 reports that the clock tower was the source of a great deal of excitement in the community:

“It is pleasant to record the fact that the clock … (built by the) Seth Thomas Clock Company, of Stamford, Conn., for a tower clock which the company lists at $1010, and which will be a contribution to the department...”

Meanwhile, 114 years later, last Tuesday, 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.

According to Booth, Tuesday morning’s task was to replace “the cedar hands, which require painting every two years, with powder coated aluminum ones, and stainless steel counterweights.”

It’s neat to be here and be a part of history, said Glass as he and Bloom kept looking up.  It’s exciting to see the clock being preserved, said Bloom.

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.

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.”

Booth and Reifsnider subsequently jumped into the steel cage and away they were whisked into the air four stories to replace the clock hands on the old historic clock that has been a fixture in the center of town since it was dedicated at 3:30 in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1896.

Replacing the clock hands on the old timepiece is part of an ongoing effort to save and restore the clock that has been in need of repair for a number of years. 

Booth said that it was exciting to see the refurbishing come along…

Booth shared that 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.

“After inspecting the clock, this group found the clock to be in surprisingly good condition,” although, “prior to (that) visit, vandals did extensive damage to the mechanism…

“The clock is a Seth Thomas (number 16.)  The nameplate is dated May 16, 1896, and it is clock #897, and marked ‘A. S. Hotchkiss.’” 

Just then, as traffic on Main Street began to increase, Ben Rogers walked up the street as he made his way to his office at Edward Jones, at the corner of Main Street and Longwell Avenue.

“It rings the time…  It will great to see the time on the face,” said Rogers just – as if on cue – the clock bell chimed.

Booth later e-mailed, “The bell was cast by J. Resister & Sons, Baltimore, MD, and measures 37” in diameter at the mouth…  It is inscribed ‘Westminster Fire Engine & Hose #1, Incorporated 1879’...  The other side has several names of officials on an 1881 executive committee.”

Nancy Hernandez of the Community Media Center was also there to film the repairs.  This is fun.  It’s exciting to be a witness… to record this.

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. 

Albert, the granddaughter of David E. Walsh, the city's mayor from 1912 to 1916, told Explore Carroll in 2008 that she has fond memories of the clock from the days when she grew up on Main Street in Westminster.

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.
####

[20100804 SCE Wster clock tower gets new clock hands sceked]
LABELS: 
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Republican Lt. Gov. candidate, Mary Kane, visits Westminster


Republican Lt. Gov. candidate, Mary Kane, visits Westminster

www.explorecarroll.com August 31, 2010 By Kevin Dayhoff


Find a video of the event here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYi5syLxGxg


The Republican candidate for Maryland lieutenant governor, Mary D. Kane, 48, came to Westminster Tuesday for a listening tour of downtown Westminster merchants, restaurateurs, and agriculture leaders…

The Republican candidate for Maryland lieutenant governor, Mary D. Kane, 48, stops in front of Heinz Bakery on West Main Street on Tuesday, with Joe Getty, (center) the Republican state senate candidate for District 5 and Larry Haines, the current retiring District 5 state senator…

Allen Baugher, center, plays the harmonica at his family restaurant before having a discussion about the challenges of agriculture with the Republican candidate for Maryland lieutenant governor, Mary D. Kane at his family restaurant on Tuesday; as his son, Dwight, looks on…

Allen Baugher goes back to work, after having lunch with the Republican candidate for Maryland lieutenant governor, Mary D. Kane at his family restaurant on Tuesday…


Written and filmed by Kevin Dayhoff for www.explorecarroll.com.

With editorial assistance by Jim Joyner and Charles Schelle

All rights reserved by Kevin Dayhoff and www.explorecarroll.com.

August 31, 2010

Republican candidate Maryland lieutenant governor Mary Kane Westminster Explore Carroll Eagle Dayhoff Getty Haines Baugher’s

Explore Carroll: Dayhoff - Republican candidate for Md lt gov Mary Kane came to Westminster Aug 31 shar.es/0rmGS

Labels: , , , , , 

Friday, August 27, 2010

Off Track Art opening reception Friday, August 27th, 5:30 - 7:30 PM.

Off Track Art opening reception Friday, August 27th, 5:30 - 7:30 PM.

Off Track Art welcomes weaver textile artist Gwen Handler

Friday, August 27th, 5:30 - 7:30 PM.

11 Liberty Street (Side Entrance) Westminster, MD

Off Track Art

an artists cooperative gallery


I'm so sorry for the late-late notice.  Sometimes my life and work interfere with my art...

If you cannot make it over yet this evening, stop sometime in the near future and Gwen Handler's amazing work...


OPENING: Our Guest Artist for September/October brings the fine weavings and photographs of Gwen Handler. Please plan to come by the gallery and meet the artist at a Reception: Friday, August 27th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM.

GUEST ARTIST:

Gwen Handler 's specialty is weaving blankets of yarn from sheep raised on Hill Farm.

Handler and her family live on the Hill Farm outside Westminster with a flock of Leicester Longwool Sheep and a herd of Norwegian Fjord ponies.

She is chairperson of the prestigious Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and has taught weaving, photography and ceramics at the Sandy Springs Friends School for 30 years.

She has traveled with students extensively through the U.K. Gwen knows the weaving process from “sheep to shawl.”

For more information, Handler’s website may be found here: http://www.hillfarm.biz/

11 Liberty Street (Side Entrance) Westminster, MD

*** NEW hours ***

Wed-Fri noon - 6 PM

Sat 10 AM - 5 PM

http://www.offtrackart.org/

Visit us on Facebook, too

[20100827 sdosm OTA Gwen Handler reception]

http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/search/label/Art%20Off%20Track%20Art

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

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 clock tower on Main Street


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




1




3
Share



1

Digg



4

Share

prev1 2 3 4 5 next





(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.”
Booth and Reifsnider subsequently jumped into the steel cage and away they were whisked into the air four stories to replace the clock hands on the old historic clock that has been a fixture in the center of town since it was dedicated at 3:30 in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1896...


Wayne Reifsnider, assistant superintendent for the City of Westminster Street Department, works to replace the hands of the 1896...


A YouTube of the event may be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvICD3mOouw

20100803 picture caption information
 20100803 clocktowerhands (14)


Wayne Reifsnider works away at replacing the clock hands of the 1896 Westminster town clock Tuesday morning 

20100803 clocktowerhands (2)

Left to Right: Wayne Reifsnider, David Booth, and Alan Miller examine the new powder coated aluminum clock hands that were later installed on the face the historic Westminster clock Tuesday morning. 20100803 clocktowerhands (2)
  
20100803 clocktowerhands (5)

City workers used a Thomas Bennett and Hunter crane to replace the clock hands on the face of the 1896 timepiece that overlooks Westminster.  20100803 clocktowerhands (5)

 20100803 clocktowerhands (9)

Left to Right: Wayne Reifsnider, Shawn Lockard and Alan Miller prepare a steel cage that was used to hoist workers up four stories to do repairs on the old town clock Tuesday morning. 20100803 clocktowerhands (9)

 20100803 clocktowerhands (22)

City workers had to use a big Thomas Bennett and Hunter crane to perform repairs on the clock tower Tuesday morning.

20100803 clocktowerhands (29)

Wayne Reifsnider works away at replacing the clock hands of the 1896 Westminster town clock Tuesday morning.

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

August 8, 2010

There are three versions of my story on the Westminster clock tower.


There was a short version published in my Sunday history column, “Archives,” that appears in the Baltimore Sunday Sun.  It only appeared in the print version of the newspaper.

Then, there is a much longer version of the piece that was submitted, but edited a good bit for length.  I will eventually put that on my website…

A YouTube of the event may be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvICD3mOouw



Westminster MD Clock Tower Fund

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: http://tinyurl.com/2bnrsrg or here: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2010/08/dayhoff-clock-docs-make-house-call-to_10.html

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.

*****
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/