Agenda - 12-01-2003-5c - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: Orange County Commissioners FROM: Hillsborough Town Clock Committee Date: November 200.3 RE: Request for Approval of a Bronze Flaque in Recognition of Significant Contributions to the Town Clock Restoration A few years ago, the 18'x' century town clock, believed to have been a royal gift in 1769, stopped working and presented the Town of Hillsborough with a great challenge.. We knew we must do something, but also realized what a tremendous job it would be. Orange County's plans to perform work on the clock tower provided the necessary impetus to undertake our' clock restoration project and we are happy to report that the project is complete! This is one of the most successful collaborations any of us can remember among the Town, the County, local corporations, foundations, and private citizens, In late summer 2002, the Town of Hillsborough was determined to restore our colonial tower clock. With restoration of the 1846 Orange County Courthouse tower pending, the time was right for' the Town Board to set its project in motion. The town committed $.30,000 out of general funds toward the projected cost of $60,000 and appointed a committee of volunteers including two town commissioners to oversee the project and raise the remaining necessary funds,. Within two months, the Town Clock Restoration Committee raised about $27,000 and within the year, successfully raised around $45,000 that, combined with the town's commitment, provided enough to meet the cost of restoration, which had reached $75,000. It was not until we had dismantled the clock that we discovered the magnitude of the challenge. The committee's findings were that structurally the clock remained sound, but after two and a half centuries it needed to be completely rebuilt. It was removed from the tower, disassembled, and had all worn parts repaired or replaced by clock tower consultant Chuck Roeser of Lockport, NY. Mr, McAdoo and his staff found that the courthouse tower was badly deteriorated and suffered from a good deal of water damage.. When we moved to the outside we discovered that the dials and the hands, both made of heavy copper sheet, were in need of extensive repair.. All are original and have not been rebuilt for close to two centuries.. It was difficult to estimate the full costs of the project until everything was taken apart and craftsmen began their work. Although the project turned out to be substantially larger and more complex than we had originally anticipated, those we asked to help responded with great enthusiasm and generosity. From the standpoint of the clock tower, this of'course includes the Orange County Commissioners and county personnel including Manager Tohn Link, Public Works Director Wilbert McAdoo, and Wayne Fenton. The Orange County's contribution of the full rehabilitation of the tower and its cupola was of great importance and for this incredible display of stewardship, we are truly grateful. The courthouse tower looks as it has not looked in decades -freshly painted and with its original multi-paned windows reinstalled, the black dials gleaming with their gold ]ettering and hands,. We cannot thank Orange County enough for your commitment to the Old Courthouse and the fine work on the tower! As you are aware, the clock is now back from NY and has been returned to the courthouse cupola. We would now like to proceed publicly thanking the County, the Town and major donors for their heartwarming and enthusiastic generosity.. To that end, we ask for guidance from the Orange County Conunissioners on the approval of and appropriate location for a bronze plaque recognizing significant contributions -Orange County among them. Enclosed please find a draft of the bronze plaque that lists donors of $1,000 and up, which we hope to install in the lobby of the Old Courthouse in a location approved by the Commissioners. We ask that you provide us this direction at your earliest possible convenience. Respectfully submitted, Hillsborough Town Clock Restoration Committee