Chesterville Clock Tower, located at the corner of Main and King streets in Chesterville, has been refurbished and is once again keeping time. See more inside on page 6. Courtesy Photo
CHESTERVILLE – Chesterville Clock Tower, located at the corner of Main and King streets in Chesterville, has been refurbished and is once again keeping time.
The clock tower was constructed as a millennial project by the Rotary Club of Chesterville and was unveiled on July 8, 2000, with funds from the community and Federal Millennial Grant. The kiosk located next to the clock tower was built at the same time in memory of Leon Marcellus, a Chesterville businessman, by his sisters Gladys Marcellus and Evelyn Gillard. The Chesterville and District Historical Society often provide historic displays for the kiosk.
In March of this year, the RCC began the refurbishment project, with Rotarian Betty Vanden Bosch spearheading the project and Rotarian Martin Derks overseeing the repairs on Oct. 4 on behalf of the RCC. Vanden Bosch explained a new internal timepiece, hands and an internal upgrade was needed, and a new LED backlighting unit. A businessman in Woodstock, Ontario facilitated the repair, with parts from The Verdin Company in the US. The installation was made by Mr. Houthuize and his son, with the work beginning at 1 p.m. on Oct. 4 and completed just before 8 p.m.
If community members would like to donate toward the huge repair bill, they are asked to contact a member of the Rotary Club of Chesterville.
Carolyn Thompson Goddard, grew up in Chesterville and attended North Dundas District High School. After completing her BA in Political Science at Carleton University she has worked as a medical secretary and library technician. In 2020 she graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Journalism and has been a reporter and column writer for The Chesterville Record for over 10 years.
