"Courtesy Haverhill Public Library." |
"Courtesy of Walnut Square Tower Clock Fdn." |
"Courtesy of Walnut Square Tower Clock Fdn."
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WALNUT SQUARE SCHOOL
Walnut Square School – 645 Main Street, Haverhill – was designed by Mr. C. Damon. It opened in September 1898, at a cost of $30,000. The elementary school houses the E. Howard Tower Clock.
Photo circa 1905.
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TIMEPIECE (Front)
The 1898 E. Howard timepiece was restored to its original design in 1998. The mechanism regulates the time on the four clock faces. Edward Howard was born in Hingham, MA, and installed approximately 3,500 tower clocks world-wide. He also founded the Waltham Watch Co. in Waltham, MA.
This room is open to the public, by appointment only.
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TIMEPIECE (Back)
The cost to craft the 1898 E. Howard Tower Clock was $1,300. Hanging on the brick wall, to the right of the mechanism, is one
of the four original mahogany rings from 1898. The rings secure the faces to the tower. The new rings are also mahogany, and have three coats of epoxy paint.
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"Courtesy of Walnut Square Tower Clock Fdn." |
"Courtesy of Walnut Square Tower Clock Fdn." |
"Courtesy of Walnut Square Tower Clock Fdn." |
WEIGHTS
One of two sets of weights, that power the pendulum regulated
timepiece. Each set is 125 pounds. The weights are raised on a weekly basis by an electrified, automated winding system. In a
power outage the weights can be raised with a hand crank. The weights are in the same room as the timepiece
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BELFRY
One Level Above The Timepiece
The original bell from 1898, cleaned and mounted on a new wooden cradle. The restoration project included a PM shut-off for the bell, thus, the bell only rings on the hour, from 8 am to 9 pm.
This room is not open to the public.
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BEHIND THE FOUR FACES
Two Floors Above The Timepiece
On the top of the rod iron frame is the universal unit, which is connected to the timepiece. Four rods extend out to the four,
7 foot diameter, ¼ inch double-frosted glass faces. These rods turn the clock’s hands. This room also has two high-powered lights on automatic timers that light-up the faces at night.
This level is not open to the public.
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