By Linda Harkcom

Published: Friday, March 1, 2013, 5:15 p.m.
Updated: Friday, March 29, 2013

For more than 100 years, the Mt. Pleasant Town Clock, located in the United Methodist Church, has helped to keep borough residents on time. Late last fall, the hands of the large clock stopped moving.

Borough Manager Jeff Landy said that, while the clock is housed in the church, it belongs to the borough and the two organizations work together to keep the clock operational.

“The clock has been a monument in Mt. Pleasant for years, and it is a symbol of the fact that from the time of being a child and growing up through the years you always looked to the clock to see the time,” Mayor Gerald Lucia said.

When the clock stopped working in late fall, Lucia said residents took notice.

“Believe me, since it hasn't worked, many people have asked, “When are you going to fix the clock?” Lucia said.

George Hockenberry, chairman of the church's Board of Trustees, said the motor that runs the clock is broken and in need of repair.

“The motor burnt up, but we are not sure why. That is what we are trying to figure out,” Hockenberry said.

He said the clock was built in the early 1900s and was originally controlled by a pendulum before the 3-inch by 6-inch motor was installed.

“This clock is kind of unusual that it has one very small motor that runs all four faces,” Hockenberry said.

About six years ago, the borough and the church worked together to raise more than $23,000 plus in-kind services to replace the faces, hands, gears behind the hands and some new rods.

Landy said the cost to repair the clock this time is unknown.

“We currently have two different companies looking at the approximately 40-year-old motor to see if it can be repaired,” Landy said.

Hockenberry said the motor is so old that it is not made.

“So if you have one of these motors, you have to get it fixed,” he said.

Linda Harkcom is a freelance writer.

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