Restoring Morganton's historic clock

At the beginning of August, we reached our funding goal to begin restoring Morganton's historic O.B. McClintock clock, located at the corner of Union St. and Sterling St. This milestone is especially exciting because the entire project has been funded by community donations.

Over the course of a few days, the clock was carefully disassembled, piece by piece, for repairs and restoration. Once completed, the clock will not only keep time but also chime again, and its stained glass will be illuminated for the first time in decades. This clock, over 100 years old, is one of fewer than 50 remaining in the United States.

I’ve begun repairing the clock faces, starting with the most deteriorated one. This involved cleaning out the old cement and replacing it with new materials. A significant focus of my portion of the restoration involves the tubular bell chamber, the lower section of the clock. The long tubular chimes, which stretch from the top to the bottom, have been on my mind a lot lately. Originally, this section featured stained glass interspersed with mesh screens. My initial plan was to replace the screens with solid stained glass, but after consulting experts, I have decided to keep the original design. This decision was driven by both historical preservation and the need for the chimes' sound to remain clear and unobstructed. Though solid glass might look more aesthetically pleasing, it would likely muffle the chimes' sound.

I’ve disassembled the stained glass panels, preserving as much original glass as possible. However, as seen in the photo above, the metal framework is severely deteriorated. I’ve ordered new zinc came to rebuild the panels but it’s currently backordered. While I wait for it, I’m focused on cleaning 100 years' worth of grime from the glass.

Scott Andrews and Eric Storey at Valdese Watch and Repair are working on the mechanical components that will bring the clock back to life. We’re thrilled to see this project coming together and can’t wait to share the results with the community.