By Danny Teigman
The clock was presented to the village by the Grist Mill Committee.
Located at the intersection of Atlantic Ave. and Main St. the green, four-faced-clock stands 15 feet tall and weighs approximately 800 pounds. It now serves as the community's asthetic focal point, said village Clerk-Treasurer, Dennis McCabe. "I think we chose that location because it's in Veterans Square," he said. "And it's a location deserving of some sort of tasteful distinction."
Grist Mill Co-director Carolyn Ferretti said the clock was chosen by committee to compliment downtown's recently redone 19th century-style lampposts. The $10,000 clock was purchased from Illinois-based, The Fancy Street Clock Company, LLC -- a business which often sells to towns or villages -- and was paid for through various fundraisers, including June's annual Huckleberry Frolic, held in Memorial Park. "[We] wish to dedicate this clock to all of the community organizations, businesses, and individuals, who, over the years, have supported the Grist Mill Museum," she said.
"I think it's a nice addition to the revitalization of downtown," said, Edward Schenk, Ferretti's assistant. "It kind of finishes off this area of the commercial district."
In terms of technology however, McCabe stressed there is nothing old-fashioned about the tower. Its four clocks are synchronized through satelite uplink with an atomic clock in Denver, Co., guaranteeing the most accurate time possible. Daylight Savings adjustments are no problem, since the clock readjusts automatically, he said.
Of course gadgets are not without gliches, and the first one came shortly after the clock tower was delivered -- each clock reading slightly different times. The error was quickly corrected, he said. When asked if he was confident this would be the only snag he joked, "See what happens on Daylight Savings Time -- call me and I'll let you know."
Installation costs were around $20,000 McCabe said, but funding came from the village's community development fund. That money is channeled to local municipalities through the federal government's Housing and Urban Development Program, "Operation Downtown" -- designed to help stimulate small town growth through community development block grants (CDBG's), he added.
Similar funds have also gone toward restoring the look and feel of downtown, including the rehabilitated waterfront by The Fishery restaurant. Spring landscaping by the Beautification Committee will complete the tower's appearance with grass and flowers. A bench was also considered, he said, but was nixed due to surrounding traffic volume. Future additions may include the complete redo of Veterans Square, starting with replacing the American Legion/Veterans of Foreign Wars plaque, adjacent to the square's flagpole.
Overall Grist Mill committee members and village officials were pleased the new clock will serve a dual purpose.
"I think Veterans Square needed something [and the clock tower] deliniates your entrance into downtown," McCabe said.
Comments about this story? Dteigman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext
