Center School Clock Removed for Restoration

Photo by Ray Andrews

The 1898 Seth Thomas clock at the Center School is one step closer to ringing in Mattapoisett village again.

The clock mechanism was removed from the clock tower on Thursday, December 1, by clock specialist Balzer Family Clockworks, of Freeport, ME. Balzer removed the clock face hands and the weight-driven pendulum section from the clock tower, with the intention of stripping the lead paint and restoring the parts to new working order.

The clock will be restored at their workshop and reinstalled at Center School in spring. The weight pendulum section will be installed in the third floor music room and be placed behind plexi-glass for public viewing, said project coordinator Ray Andrews. It will be the first time in 113 years that the public can view the clock mechanism. When the clock is done, it will be “better than new”, he said.

Mr. Andrews first became interested in restoring the clock when he was the building committee chairman for the Old Hammondtown and Center School restoration project. As early as 2004, he started contacting Balzer about the feasibility of restoring the classic Seth Thomas clock to working order.

The weight-driven pendulum operated the clock and chimed at all hours in the village until the mid-1990s when the gears got gummed up as a result of misguided maintenance. An attempt by the Police Officers Association in the 1990s to fix the clock proved to be a temporary solution. After the clock was permanently silenced, some suggested doing a quick fix with a satellite-controlled electronic system.

Mr. Andrews stayed the course and advocated to restore the pendulum striker to its original glory. The process, however, would be considerably more expensive. An estimate to electrify the clock was between $11,000 to 14,000, whereas the full clock restoration could cost as much as $70,000, with Balzer receiving about $48,000 for their part. Mr. Andrews decided to go to Center School graduates and the Community Preservation Committee to piecemeal that total.

To date, Mr. Andrews has received approximately $19,413 in a drive to collect one dollar from each Center School alumnus. Of the 5,000 students who have passed through the school, about 566 have contributed, including the entire classes of 1935-1938, 1942-1945, and 1953. Some contributors stepped forward to donate on behalf of their whole class, said Mr. Andrews.

The total was enough to start the ball rolling, and Balzer removed the clock to begin work. Mr. Andrews hopes that an upcoming meeting with the Community Preservation Committee will give him a better idea of how much of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds the town is willing to share for the restoration.

The Mattapoisett School Committee voted that the new clock would have to be automated, but Mr. Andrews volunteered to be the “clock keeper” for as long as he can.

“Everything comes out piece by piece,” said Linda Balzer, of Balzer Family Clockworks. “These clocks are always restorable. The school can use this as a teaching tool. You’ve got mathematics, physics… the kids just love it. Kids today are so into electronics that they never get to see mechanics anymore. It’s a wonderful teaching tool.”

Two generations of Balzers – parents Rick and Linda and son Chris – worked on Thursday afternoon, joking and laughing in the dusty clock tower while removing the old scrolled hands off the clock face.

“These hands aren’t typical of Seth Thomas,” said Ms. Balzer, saying that the hand pattern was reminiscent of a fleur-de-lis motif.

Seth Thomas, born in Wolcott, CT, produced several quality timepieces throughout New England in the 19th century. According to the Balzers, Seth Thomas’ clock company was bought out by Andrew Steven Hotchkiss in 1867, who continued the Seth Thomas name until his death in 1901. The Center School clock bears the name “A.S. Hotchkiss” on the brass plaque. The 38-inch bronze bell on the clock was manufactured by Meneely Co. out of Troy, NY, another noteworthy manufacturer of the late 19th century.

The clock was just one of many magnificent touches added to the Center School, which was a gift to the town of Mattapoisett from Standard Oil tycoon Henry Huttleston Rogers, who attended grammar school while living with his grandparents in Mattaposiett.

According to Ms. Balzer, a weight-driven pendulum clock, properly maintained, can last for centuries. A similar clock in Salisbury, England, was produced in the 1300s and is still in operation, she said.

Balzer has restored over 30 similar weight-driven pendulum clocks in New England, including Seth Thomas clocks located at the Department of Police Service in North Attleboro, MA, and the Free Will Baptist Church in North Sutton, NH. A full list of restored clocks – including before and after photos – can be viewed on their website at www.BalzerClockworks.com.

Once the clock is restored, it will once again chime in the village, though Mr. Andrews noted that they will keep it silent in the evening to avoid upsetting neighbors who perhaps aren’t accustomed to hearing chimes at all hours of the night.

“But I’d love to hear it again, 24/7,” said Mr. Andrews. “It never bothered me.”

Center School alumni interested in donating to the project can contact Mr. Andrews at andrewscompass@verizon.net, and can make checks payable to: Center School Clock, P.O. Box 882, Mattapoisett, MA, 02739. Please add your year of graduation to the memo line.

By Anne Kakley