Historic Potter County Courthouse Clock Rescued
(Reprinted with permission from Endeavor News).
A long-time Potter County employee has come up with a plan to rescue the failing “town clock” atop the historic courthouse. Maintenance director Joe Kurtz (right) recently received the county commissioners’ green light to move forward. He also found a way to reduce the county’s cost to a modest $10,000 – a small price to install a timepiece that will likely perform reliably for a century or more. In recent years, a patchwork of repairs have been made to the ancient clockwork that moves the four long arms to mark time on four separate clock faces. However, its time has passed. Kurtz credited long-time caretaker Ed Thompson for selflessly donating his services to maintain the clock. He followed in the footsteps of David Hauber, Willard Hauber, Bill Roberts and others. Kurtz and Thompson weighed multiple options before recommending to the commissioners that they spring for a motorized gearbox and controller, along with new driveshafts, gears, hands and center glass. Total project cost is estimated at $26,000, but Kurtz has secured a $16,000 grant to cushion the financial blow
Commissioner Paul Heimel contacted directors of the Potter County Historical Society, who agreed to display the current clockwork in its museum on North Main Street. “Everyone agrees that the original equipment has great historic value,” Heimel said. “The society supports this plan and will show the clockwork next to the original clock mechanism from the 1800s which is already on display at the museum.” The tower with its functioning clock and bell is one reason the courthouse is listed on National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1851-53, the courthouse was remodeled in 1888 with Victorian and Italian touches added to its Greek Revival motif. Major renovations were done in 1933-34 through the Civil Works Administration. The historic bell was silent for many years. In 2016, then-Coudersport Mayor Brenda Whitman and local machinist Bill Daly spearheaded a successful fundraising campaign to repair it.
