Iconic clock tower under wraps for repairs

The predominantly brick, three-story structure, which also houses the police department and the Tiffany Reading Room, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by architect Albert J. Manning, the masonry exterior of the Colonial Revival-style facade features decorative details and is surmounted by the clock tower.

It may not rise as high as Philadelphia’s, standing 548 feet atop city hall, but stylistically, Irvington’s clock tower is quite ornate, even in comparison to the hundreds of loftier ones that sprang up in the early 20th century as focal points of both urban and suburban America. 

More than 15 years have passed since Irvington’s clock tower was last refurbished, and it needs attention. No work is planned on the timepiece. 

“The clock itself is working fine,” Village Administrator Larry Schopfer told the Enterprise on July 7. “This is more getting to the heart of the wood structure. Over the years, there’s been some deterioration and damage inside, like from animals, squirrels. There’s a pretty evident hole in the west side of the clock tower.”

Schopfer added that the screening behind the louvers might have come loose, allowing animals inside.

The cupola is predominantly wood, and features four sets of Corinthian columns, four pairs of swan’s neck-shaped volute corbels framing the clock faces, a black dome, and louvered sides. 

In 2006, the clock hands and the glass over the clock faces were replaced, the dome was repainted, and repairs were made to the wood structure. 

The clock’s central mechanism is run by electricity. In a document describing an inscription on the clock, on file with the National Register, the manufacturer of the clock is identified as E. Howard Clock Co. of New York and Boston. Howard made watches, small clocks, and sidewalk clocks, and also built special tower clocks for public buildings, churches, and educational institutions all over the U.S., in the late 19th and early 20th century. One of Howard’s more famous clocks is in the Tribeca area of Manhattan, on the tower of the former New York Life Insurance Co. building at 346 Broadway. Another, on the San Francisco Ferry Building, featuresfour 22-foot clock dials. 

Schopfer said the initial estimate to restore town hall’s tower was $305,674, but it was possible that additional deterioration could be discovered during the work. The repairs are being done by Pacific Trans Global Construction, based in Hastings.

An additional expense is the rented scaffolding, which took about a week to install. The scaffolding will cost an estimated $120,000 if the project is completed by the late-November target, before winter is likely to make work on the cupola too dangerous. If the project drags on, additional scaffolding rental fees will accrue.