Telling the time again: Historic downtown Massillon church restores city's 'Town Clock'

MASSILLON − An iconic four-sided clock watching over downtown Massillon for more than a century has been restored to its former glory.

Known as the "Town Clock," the clock faces at the historic First United Methodist Church at 301 Lincoln Way E were replaced last week with four computer-generated faces that light up at night.

Pete Truemper, chairman of First United Methodist's board of trustees, said the old clock had not operated efficiently for about 25 years.

"The old original clock was all mechanical," he said. "It was kind of like a cuckoo clock; it had a big weight on it. Once a week or so, that weight would have to be re-wound up. About 15 years ago, my father-in-law (James Keehn) and I decided we were going to get them running again.

"So, we climbed up there and did some maintenance and repairs — he was a machinist at the Timken Co. — so we got them running again. We had to go up there every month or so because they would run a little slow, so it wasn't quite as efficient of a clock as when it was first built."

The new quartz clock faces, he said, were manufactured and installed by Tower Clocks USA of Charleston, South Carolina. The installation hit a slight snag last week when a lift was found to be too short to reach the top of the bell tower, which is about 120 feet.

New clock is a granddaughter's tribute to Ralph Cornell

Truemper said the $40,000 project was underwritten by donations from church members and others, including a grant from the Gessner Foundation. However, the bulk of the cost was covered by First United Methodist member Nan Ream, in memory of her late grandfather Ralph Cornell.

"They're gorgeous," she said. "I think they're going to be fabulous when they're all done. It's going to be such a difference for downtown."

Ream said her grandfather cared deeply about his church and his city. The church's chimes, which ring at noon and 6 p.m. each day, are still played in Cornell's honor. Cornell, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 104, founded the Cornell Real Estate and Insurance Agency.

"My grandpa had such respect for the people of Massillon," she said.

First United Methodist has had a presence in Massillon and western Stark County since 1810. The original edifice, constructed in 1888, was destroyed by fire on May 13, 1892.

After the fire, the city's residents raised $1,200 to replace the clock, which became known as the Town Clock.

"While the embers were still smoking, they decided to rebuild," Truemper said, adding the present sandstone structure was completed it 1895.

In addition to the clock, the tower includes bells forged by the Buckeye Bell Foundry in 1893.

The clock played a role in Massillon history

Massillon historian Margy Vogt said the clock played a significant role in the city's history, as evidenced by the response of residents who raised money to have them restored.

"It’s an interesting part of Massillon history that the steeple with the clocks was thereafter called the 'Town Clock,' because townspeople paid for the clocks," she said.

Vogt said jeweler Joseph Coleman, who selected the timepieces, wasn’t confident enough in electricity at the time so he chose a clock that needed to be manually wound.

"He did that weekly until his son, Albert took over," she said.

Vogt said jeweler Glenn Heckert took over the task in 1928, winding the clock every week until the winding system was hooked up to electricity.

The clock faces were illuminated at night by lightbulbs.

"Massillon Electric & Gas Co. contributed lighting for the clocks," Vogt said. "In 1950, when an electric winding system was installed, the city electrician became responsible for maintenance because of the status as the Town Clock."

Vogt also noted that First United Methodist is one of six buildings in Massillon listed on the National Register Register of Historic Places.

The others are St. Joseph and St. Mary Catholic churches, St. Timothy Episcopal Church, the Five Oaks mansion, and the Massillon Cemetery.

"Constructed of local sandstone, it’s part of the character of the city," she said.

Truemper said a formal dedication is planned for next spring.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com.

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Historic First United Methodist in Massillon restores 'Town Clock'