Dear Editor,
My spouse tells me that I have a pretty good memory but that I sometimes
get the facts confused, but I thought I would give this a shot anyway.
It seems like a few years ago there was a program organized in Vinton that
would get folks to donate money to restore the big old clock in the tower
of the Benton County Courthouse. I remember sending a donation for that
purpose as I grew up in Vinton a long time ago, and I remember, as a kid,
secretly climbing up into the bell tower and enduring the ear-busting noise
as the clock chimed. Also, you could hear the bell clear out to Dudgeon
lake so one knew when to head for home.
Then I kind of remember some stories and photos where an out-of-state
company took the money and got the clock cleaned up and running and
got the hands all lined up, and stuff, and everybody was happy except those
that noticed that the big old bell in the tower did not chime the Hour as It
was supposed to.
The restoration company apparently said they couldn’t fix it, because they
couldn’t get parts or something.
My friends in Vinton who I am still in contact with tell me that the clock
seems to be running OK, but still does not chime like it should. That got me
wondering why the folks that requested donations have not pursued the
Issue and found someone to fix the problem. I remember as a kid that the
town was endowed with handymen and mechanics and skilled Individuals
who could have looked at that old clock, figured out what was wrong and
engineered a solution.
After all, that old clock is just a piece of machinery made up of parts and
Engineering that existed over 100 years ago. Surely someone around there
could figure out how to make the bell go “BONGâ€� again. What a wonderful
thing to happen to help celebrate Vinton’s big birthday celebration that is
coming up soon.
The new paint-job on the Water tower looks nice from the photos I have
seen, but that water tower does not have the historical memories that the
Old clock bell has.
Just a suggestion from a former Vinton resident, but always a Vinton
Native.
Robert Kimm
Class of 52
Now of Phoenix, AZ.
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As of 7:00 AM this morning, June 20th, the clock was stopped on 3:56. And I waited for at least ten minutes and didn't hear the bell. I don't believe the clock, or it's bell has gave an accurate time since it's return after being held hostage in Indiana(?)for far too long. When the bell did ring, you needed to be within a half block of it to hear it, if the wind was in the right direction. It think the main reason for not being able to hear the bell was that the area where the bell is was totally enclosed for weather and birds. If memory serves, there used to be hardware cloth or chicken type wire to keep the birds out. With today's modern construction materials, I would think it could be protected from rain/snow leakage.
Yes, it would be wonderful to have it returned to working order and having the bell be heard again across town before our August celebration.
You were correct that local people used to repair the clock. Jewelers Paul Wirth and Harold Knaack both worked on it, I'm quite certain.
Class of '62
Iowa Tom