Frequently
Asked Questions: When was
the clock tower built and at what
cost? The clock
tower was built between 1882-1884. This
corresponds to the period from which the
cornerstone was laid--July 25, 1882--to June 20,
1884, when the church was dedicated. The
total cost was $45,000, a third of which was
bequeathed to the church by Reverend Charles
Thorn. What
materials were used in the clock tower's
construction? The clock
tower was constructed entirely from wood.
Wooden beams and buttresses act as a frame for the
tower and the steeple, which rises to a height of
172 feet. Brick is used as "skin" for the
tower, but is not a structural element. Slate
is used for the roof of the steeple. There
are no steel beams, but tie rods were added in 1932
for strengthening. Copper has replaced the
original wooden dormers, arches, turrets and
fascia. When and
from whom were the clock and bell
purchased? The clock
was purchased in 1883 from E. Howard Clock Company
of Boston. It was one of 17 such clocks
delivered to Pittsburgh in the late 1800's.
The bell was purchased at the same time from
Clinton H. Meneely and Company of Troy, New
York. The combined cost of the clock and bell
in 1883 was $1,067.63 ($575.00 +
$492.63). What is
the inscription on the bell? One side of
the bell has inscribed on it Psalm XCVI: "Let
us sing unto the Lord. Let us make a joyful
noise to the Rock of our salvation." The
other side reads: "Sewickleyville Methodist
Episcopal Church A.D. 1883." Has the
clock tower ever been struck by
lightning? The steeple
has been struck by lightning many times, causing
the clock to stop. But perhaps more insidious
has been the damage caused by birds who chose to
nest in the tower. Several small fires were
believed to have been caused by birds carrying lit
cigarette stubs back to their nests. To
prevent further damage, screens were installed in
1953, and again in 1996, to lock out the
birds. Also, a fire suppression/sprinkler
system, which can reach to the top of the steeple,
was installed in 1996. Has the
clock been in continual operation since its
installation? Except for
the period of 1950-1953, when the motors and wiring
were being modernized, the clock and bell have
operated 24 hours a day since 1884. ©
2003 Sewickley United Methodist Church
The
Clock Tower
www.sewickleyumc.org
Revised 11-14-03
Technical Comments: webmaster@sewickleyumc.org