Saturday, October 30, 1999
Clock a gift to mark century
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL — With Friday's installation of a town clock, city leaders hope the timepiece will link present and future generations.
“What we wanted to do was make this a community project,” said Mayor Tom Holocher, who helped lead the year-long fund-raising effort for a city clock marking the new millennium. “We wanted something that the present generation could give to future generations.”
The mayor said volunteers originally hoped to raise $30,000 for the clock and a surrounding “mini park,” but ended up with nearly $35,000. Donations ranged from a couple of dollars to $3,500, and came from residents, businesses and civic groups, as well as from outside the city.
The city of Fort Mitchell is contributing $7,000 to $8,000 for landscaping, bricks, and other costs, City Administrator Bill Goetz said.
“I think this clock will add a lot to our community for years to come,” Councilman Dennis Zahler said as workers from The Verdin Co. installed the four-faced, 16-foot-tall clock Friday morning.
The clock is in front of the city flagpole, surrounded by brick pavers. A concrete base lists the names of donors who gave $100 or more, and a small stand will later be erected with the names of those who gave less.
“There'll be benches at each corner, so it'll be a place where people can sit and enjoy the setting,” Mr. Zahler said.
On Friday, more than a dozen photographers gathered in front of the city building as Verdin workers set a dark green pole in place, then gingerly set the clock faces atop it, using a crane. For the finishing touch, Phil Dravage, a Verdin field technician, attached an ornamental crown piece with the help of the fire department's aerial truck.
“I was driving by and just stopped to see what was going on,” said Rich Grone, a 73-year-old Fort Mitchell resident. “It looks real nice.”
Several others, including Joyce Reiley, 41, were visiting the city building Friday to pay their taxes but stayed around to watch the clock.
“I think it's great,” said Betty Mackzum, 71, who skipped breakfast Friday so she and her husband, Robert, 75, could witness Fort Mitchell's town clock go up. “We always admired the clock in Erlanger at the corner of Commonwealth (Avenue).”
The chimes on Fort Mitchell's new town clock will be activated when the timepiece is dedicated at 2 p.m. Nov. 21. The clock will sound on the hour and at 15-minute intervals. It also will ring in the new year.
“We get a lot of people who walk up and down the highway here, so we thought it would be nice if the clock could play some music,” Mr. Holocher said. “We'll be able to play seasonal music at Christmas time, the Fourth of July, and other special occasions.”
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