Clock Tower Proponents Seek Final Funding Push

After nearly two years of fundraising, the Hatboro group tasked with raising the 50 percent borough match for a $25,000 state grant is hoping for one final financial push.

The borough's clock tower committee intends to ask the Hatboro Borough Authority to chip in the remaining $3,750 to cover the estimated $51,000 expense of restoring the circa 1812 clock tower, according to Borough Manager Fred Zollers.

The group recently sought the blessing of the Hatboro Borough Council–which it received–prior to attending the authority's Feb. 5 meeting to inquire about the possibility of funding, Zollers said. 

"We had to have all that money in an account for the grant," Zollers said, noting that February is the deadline. 

Once the money is in borough hands, he said "legal things" would be drawn up and work should get underway soon after. 

The borough has not officially designated a clock restorer. However, borough businessman Keith Winship of Winship Pieces of Time is a likely candidate considering he devised the clock's restoration plan.

"The grant from the state has no stipulations," Zollers said. "It probably does not have to be bid out, probably because the work’s so specialized."