A piece of history over 6 feet round and positioned 90 feet above the ground was restored last week in Oconto.
Although the Oconto County Courthouse clock still might look like an antique, with its cast-iron grid work and Roman numerals, the four-faced clock has been updated with state-of-the-art gears and digital controls to keep perfect time.
The clock was initially installed in 1907 and refurbished in 1952 or 1953, according to Kevin Noack, head of the Oconto County Maintenance Department. In recent years, the clock failed to keep accurate time.
“The east face, you always had to take it apart on the inside and reset the time because it would get out of sync,” Noack said.
Then last fall, a hand fell off the west face of the clock. Noack said he wasn’t about to climb to the top of the courthouse cupola to replace it.
The county contracted with Lumichron, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, for $21,140, to replace the drive system, back lighting and clock hands. Lumichron owner Ian Macartney, employee Dan Mudde and hired hand Jeremey Berry completed the project in three days.
The clock was chiming again Wednesday afternoon.
“Everything is working great,” Noack said.
The new clock controller gets its time synchronized with GPS by means of an antennae installed outside of a window in the bell tower. The clock will reset automatically for daylight saving time and power interruptions. The gear system is lubrication- and maintenance-free.
“It’s a lot easier for us,” Noack said. “It’s all automatic now. We just have to go up there to check it every once in a while to see that everything’s working.”
Before installing the new system, Lumichron removed the old gears and heavy, cast iron bed. Noack said the clock workings will be kept on hand and might some day be incorporated into a historical display.
Macartney said he was thankfully surprised by how easily the pieces came apart.
The restoration project involved several upgrades. Modern LED lights replaced a mercury vapor light to back light each dial. The antique glass of the clock dial was cleaned with a special solution, and the giant hammer that struck the bell was replaced with a modern striking system to mark each hour.
“I think it’s just great they’re restoring it and keeping things like this running,” Macartney said.
He said historic clocks are too often left in disrepair.
“It’s nice that it’s mostly original,” he said of the restored clock. “Frankly, it’s been well taken care of.”
“A lot of people like the clock,” Noack said. “They like the bell. A lot of people across town say they always listen for the bell.”
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