Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on January 5, 1966.
Seeking Opinions About Courthouse Tower Clocks
Do the people of Valparaiso and Porter county want the exterior clocks now adorning four sides of the courthouse?
Members of the Porter County Board of Commissioners are considering eliminating the traditional courthouse timepieces because of the excessive cost of service and maintenance on the old works which are constantly malfunctioning.
At a recent meeting, an $85 per month contract to service the clocks by a Ohio firm, was rejected by the board which felt the unserviceable timepieces were no longer a public service.
Parts Unavailable
Commissioner Martin Ericson noted that maintenance of the clocks was now an unnecessary expense to the taxpayers and would continue to be since replacement parts are now unavailable.
The present clocks were installed in the courthouse tower prior to the fire in 1932. Two years later the same works were used with new dials and installed in their present positions.
Despite constant service and attention, the four clocks have lately achieved an unenviable reputation for their inaccuracies.
Members of the commission indicated they would initiate a study for replacements (not clocks) in the areas now occupied by the aged and faulty timepieces.
