Timely grant may help fund courthouse clock upgrade

Saturday, November 21, 2015
Pending an application for an Indiana Historical Society Grant, a $20,120 project is planned to replace the clock on the south face of the Putnam County Courthouse (top) as well as placing a clock in the corresponding spot (bottom) on the north face. (Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN)

A plan to replace the clock on the Putnam County Courthouse and add another could be coming together in time for the state bicentennial celebration in 2016.

The Putnam County Commissioners on Monday committed to the remaining local matching portion of a $20,120 to replace the clock on the south wall of the courthouse as well as adding one to the corresponding spot on the north side.

Margaret Kenton presented a plan to the commissioners by which 85 percent of the cost could be paid by an Indiana Historical Society Grant. With part of the local match to be paid by Heritage Preservation Society proceeds from recent tours of the Valentine House, the remaining amount to be paid by the county stands at less than $3,000.

The commissioners jumped at the chance, pledging to pay the local match portion with funds from the cumulative courthouse fund.

Kenton discussed the desire of local volunteers and preservationists to have the clock replaced in time for Indiana bicentennial celebrations, scheduled for the second half of 2016.

The work is to be performed by Smith's Bell and Clock, and will not only modernize the look of the existing clock while adding a second, but will revamp the workings of the clock, making it less labor intensive.

Lee Stewart was at the meeting with Kenton, and he pointed out that Mike Hecko has taken care of the clock since its installation, but that Hecko is ready to move on from this duty.

As it stands currently, resetting the clock is not an easy process and it must be performed each time the power goes out.

The new clocks would automatically reset following outages.

"We need to replace Mike Hecko is what it comes down to," Stewart said, "replace him with automation."

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