Hatboro Clockmaker to Draft Restoration Plan

The Hatboro Borough Council is poised to begin the process of seeing how much tinkering, cleaning and fixes are needed to restart the hands of time.

The governing body discussed during its meeting this week - and is expected to vote during its Jan. 28 meeting - to authorize antique clock enthusiast Keith Winship of Winships' Pieces of Time to devise a report detailing the things needed to restore and preserve the borough's 200-year-old clock tower.

Borough Manager Fred Zollers said that Winship, in his letter to the borough, said he will be "taking pictures and observing" and has no plans to .

In line with the  that Hatboro received last fall from the from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Winship intends to wrap up his work by Dec. 31, 2013, Zollers said. 

"He would expect to finish it much sooner," Zollers said.

While The Millbrook Society continues its fundraising efforts to help cover costs associated with needed fixes for the clock, Council President John Zygmont suggested added assurance that Winship, in this first phase, would not take the clock apart.

"The borough understands that nothing to do with the clock will be disassembled in the process," was the clause Zygmont suggested should be included when the council takes action on Jan. 28.

Zygmont also stressed that those involved with the clock tower project would need to seek funds elsewhere before trying to obtain financial support from the Borough Authority.

"We’d like to use the authority to leverage funding for other grants," Zygmont said, adding that efforts would need to be made to "exhaust all other grant sources before we start throwing funding from the authority around."

Borough historian David Shannon, who is heading up the fundraising efforts for Millbrook, said he has no intention of going to the Borough Authority for money.

"We are not permitted to go to the Hatboro Borough Authority unless it goes through council," Shannon said. "That’s protocol."

Shannon said he is in the process of preparing application for another 50-50 matching state grant that would help to cover needed clock repairs. That grant application is due on March 1, Shannon said, adding that he is not yet sure how much money would be sought.

"Everything that is being raised now going forward is for the completion and restoration of the clock," Shannon said. 

In addition to grants, Shannon said he is actively fundraising for corporate, private individual and business contributions.

"At this time we are looking for any sources," Shannon said. "Donations would be very gratefully received."

Officials have estimated that it would cost between $35,000 to $50,000 to restore and preserve the clock and make it functional again. Winship's study would address anticipated repair costs, as well as the work itself needed to get the clock ticking again.

How you can help

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.