Sevier County Courthouse clock is ticking again spacerDate created: 7/13/2007 11:25:34 PMLast updated: 7/13/2007 11:32:41 PMspacerPost a CommentspacerThe Sevier County Courthouse clock tower is keeping time again. In large part because of the time some county employees spent with it.AdvertisementTwo years ago time stopped in downtown Sevierville. Lightning hit the power supply, burning parts of the courthouse clock, and revealing damaged gears."There were a lot of things, the clock was worn out to put it bluntly," said Dale Bradshaw, the Director of Maintenance in Sevier County.Original estimates to fix the clock tower from professional clock repair companies were around $25,000. However, some enterprising county employees came up with a cheaper, home-grown solution that would more time than money."Some people came up with ideas, you know -- if you look at it long enough somebody will come up with a better idea," Bradshaw said.They decided to take on the challenge themselves.Doing the repair work about 150 feet above ground. That's eight floors and bunch of ladders worth of climbing."Oh no, this is a workout coming up here, woo," Bradshaw said.After a day fixing the gears, time was back on their side and the clock back up and running. For a final price of about $5,000, saving the county about $20,000."It's part of our heritage -- when you go back to the late 1800's and realize how much they spent. They're money was just as precious as it is now, even though inflation has changed it," he said.To complete that heritage, Bradshaw already has plans to fix another part of the clock tower.The bell doesn't chime right now, but he hopes to program it to sound every hour, on the hour soon.
WBIR.COM - Sevier County Courthouse clock is ticking again
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