Hands of time to start moving (correctly) again in downtown Norwich
NORWICH – The historic clock that hangs over the corner of South Broad and East Main Streets in downtown Norwich has been malfunctioning for years, but thanks to the recent collaborative efforts of the Chenango Historical Society, the Greater Norwich Foundation and volunteers, the timepiece will be working again in the coming weeks.
Earlier this month, the Historical Society was granted funds by the Greater Norwich Foundation to offset the costs of repair, estimated to be $10,000 for parts and labor. The clock, which once graced the top of the five-story Chapman and Turner building on the corner of Broad and Main Streets where Gordon Park is now located, has been preserved by the Chenango County Historical Society and volunteer members of the community since its removal prior to demolition of the building in 1966.
When it was first announced that the Chapman and Turner building would come down, the clock faced an uncertain future. The Binghamton based MacDougall Construction Company became the successful bidder to raze the former department store building, but there were no contract stipulations concerning the clock; therefore, the owner of the company could dispose of it any way he wished. But with concern over what he would actually do with the clock, he ultimately decided it best that the clock should be donated to the citizens of Norwich.
For years after its removal, the clock was preserved by Norwich resident Edwin Parkhill and subsequently, it was stored in the basement of the Historical Society Museum on Rexford Street until 1988, when the Norwich Bicentennial Commission sought to restore the clock in commemoration of the founding of Norwich. With the permission of Judge Howard Sullivan, the clock was installed on the corner of his building, adjacent to where it once overlooked the downtown area from the Chapman and Turner building.
Norwich resident Patrick McNeil, owner of McNeil Jewelers, has voluntarily maintained the clock since it was installed in its new home 20 years ago, using spare clock parts from a time clock once located at the Eaton Center to keep it functioning. Those complex pieces, however, have become old and worn, he explained. Brand new mechanisms are needed to move its hands again. Following a successful grant application to the Greater Norwich Foundation to have the clock fixed with updated parts, McNeil arranged for Simplex Time Division in Binghamton to install new working mechanisms and hopes are that work will be completed within the next month, he said.
“The outside of it will look exactly the same as it does now,” he assured, adding that work is only needed on the internal working of the 74-year-old timepiece. “It shouldn’t be a problem from here on.”
Earlier this month, the Historical Society was granted funds by the Greater Norwich Foundation to offset the costs of repair, estimated to be $10,000 for parts and labor. The clock, which once graced the top of the five-story Chapman and Turner building on the corner of Broad and Main Streets where Gordon Park is now located, has been preserved by the Chenango County Historical Society and volunteer members of the community since its removal prior to demolition of the building in 1966.
When it was first announced that the Chapman and Turner building would come down, the clock faced an uncertain future. The Binghamton based MacDougall Construction Company became the successful bidder to raze the former department store building, but there were no contract stipulations concerning the clock; therefore, the owner of the company could dispose of it any way he wished. But with concern over what he would actually do with the clock, he ultimately decided it best that the clock should be donated to the citizens of Norwich.
For years after its removal, the clock was preserved by Norwich resident Edwin Parkhill and subsequently, it was stored in the basement of the Historical Society Museum on Rexford Street until 1988, when the Norwich Bicentennial Commission sought to restore the clock in commemoration of the founding of Norwich. With the permission of Judge Howard Sullivan, the clock was installed on the corner of his building, adjacent to where it once overlooked the downtown area from the Chapman and Turner building.
Norwich resident Patrick McNeil, owner of McNeil Jewelers, has voluntarily maintained the clock since it was installed in its new home 20 years ago, using spare clock parts from a time clock once located at the Eaton Center to keep it functioning. Those complex pieces, however, have become old and worn, he explained. Brand new mechanisms are needed to move its hands again. Following a successful grant application to the Greater Norwich Foundation to have the clock fixed with updated parts, McNeil arranged for Simplex Time Division in Binghamton to install new working mechanisms and hopes are that work will be completed within the next month, he said.
“The outside of it will look exactly the same as it does now,” he assured, adding that work is only needed on the internal working of the 74-year-old timepiece. “It shouldn’t be a problem from here on.”
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