Rural Missouri - February 2023 - 11

The Old
Town Clock
by Jewel Lewis
Most everything around, has been written about,
But the Old Town Clock, and I'm not leaving it out.
It sets up high and looks all around,
And spies on everyone in town.
When I was young, it seemed to pick on me.
My mother set rules for her kids you see.
" You get home by 10 or else, " said she
" You'll be in serious trouble with me. "
Well I never stepped on the porch in my life,
Without the old clock striking twice.
" It's two in the morning and you're just getting in. "
Mom, that darned clock has gone haywire again.
" There's nothing wrong with that Old Clock, " she said.
" Get in here and get yourself to bed.
" It's you young lady, you simply can't mind.
" When you get out again, you'll get back on time. "
Top: The cast-iron bell for the clock sits in the belvedere of the courthouse. At the proper
time, a cable from the clock movement lifts and releases a hammer that strikes the bell and
counts out the hours. Above: The Stoddard County Courthouse was completed in 1870.
adjustments to be made, but Sean is confident the deep bong booming out
the hours will return to Bloomfield soon. " A lot of people I've talked to say
they remember that clock working, " Sean says. " I was talking to a lady and
she said, 'I ate my lunch by that clock. When I heard it go off I knew it was
lunchtime.' I think they are going to be really excited about it. They've been
trying to get this going for a long time. "
Adds Ethan: " It would be a little bit different if it hadn't worked for two
or three years. But when it hasn't worked for this long it is a pretty big
event to have something like this happen. That clock has been up there
looking down on us for a long time. It is really special to get it going again. "
Sean hopes the repairs to Stoddard County's clock will inspire other
towns to restore their church and courthouse clocks. While this repair was
underway, he was contacted by Mississippi County which had an electric
movement in need of repairs. That was a much simpler project and Sean
has it running once again. He was also tasked
with repairing the landmark 1916 street clock in
downtown Jefferson City.
" Every town had one, " Sean says. " Churches did
too. And it seems like they are not working. It is a
shame because they are absolutely a gem. "
Bloomfield
You can reach S&N Clock Repair at 573-270-0897,
online at snclockrepair.com and on Facebook.
FEBRUARY 2023 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 11
I told you that Old Clock had a pick on me,
And that's why I didn't like it you see.
It seemed to just sit up there and stare around.
And spy on all the young people in town.
The Old Clock now has a different meaning to me,
It's slicing off my time, making me old you see.
And I still don't like it, why can't it stand still?
And turn back the time - but it never never will.
I'll just have to accept it, and calm myself down,
And let the Old Clock rule the people in town.
How would it look without it setting up there,
Swinging its hands in the cool summer air?
You know since I've thought it over,
I've changed my mind.
That Old Clock is beautiful with its melodious chimes,
It's the life of our town in our public square.
So go ahead and just set there.
We couldn't do without the Old Town Clock.
Keep up the good works
With your tick-tock-tock.

http://www.snclockrepair.com http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Rural Missouri - February 2023

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