Group Seeks Money for Clock Tower Restoration

The notion that time is money has perhaps never been truer than now as Hatboro officials look to secure enough funding to restart the hands of time on a 200-year-old clock.

to cover the cost of devising a detailed restoration plan for the historic clock sitting atop borough hall, a committee formed with the clock’s preservation in mind has teamed up with the Millbrook Society to fundraise.

At the very least, the group, led by Hatboro businessman is hoping to secure $5,000 needed for the matching grant. But, that’s just for the plan. Much more is needed to actually restore the clock and get it functioning again, Roche’ said.

“There’s no mystery in how to do this. We need $50,000 to do this thing,” said Roche,’ who got involved in the project four years ago when he noticed from the balcony of his neighboring Hatboro business, that the clock had no longer been keeping time. “The big thing here is get enough cash to do the job.”

Ultimately, the hope is to create an endowment to ensure that the clock will be cared for in the years to come, Roche’ said.

Keith Winship, of , who is also on the committee, is the man Roche’ said he’d like to have bring the clock back to life. Like Roche,’ Winship has been involved since the beginning.

Roche’ had hoped that the clock would be restored and up and running by Dec. 12, 2012 to commemorate its 200th anniversary. While he said that deadline may no longer be realistic, Roche’ has gained support from new backers who are also interested in restoring the clock that Horsham native Isaiah Lukens built. Lukens built a similar clock for Philadelphia’s Independence Hall in 1839.

“We want to take it back to what it was like when Lukens built it,” said Millbrook Society President Lin Magaha.

Under Magaha’s leadership, the nonprofit group is the muscle behind the committee’s fundraising efforts. To date, Borough Councilwoman Patty Fleming, also a clock tower committee member, said a contribution has been received from an anonymous donor.

“We’re underway,” Fleming said. “We’re raising funds and we’ve got some money in the bank.”

To get involved

Donations can be mailed to the Millbrook Society, P.O. Box 506, Hatboro PA 19040. Please make note on checks that the contribution is for the Lukens clock tower project.