Pendulum swings for Vernon heritage clock

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 05, 2012 1:00 AM

The pieces are coming together but public support is required to make Vernon’s heritage chime.  An authentic pendulum has arrived at the Greater Vernon Museum — the last major item needed to restore the clock that was in Vernon’s 1912 post office and most recently in the tower on 31st Avenue. “It’s an important Vernon artifact,” said curator Ron Candy of the time piece. “People remember the clock, hearing it chiming  or looking up and getting the time.” The goal is to restore the clock and install it inside the museum, but the $20,000 project cost is daunting for the non-profit agency. “We’re looking for community support,” said Candy, adding  that some money has been raised. The clock was installed in Vernon’s post office in 1912 and relocated to the downtown clock tower in 1967 after the post office was demolished. New digital pieces are being installed in the tower and the original clock faces have been given to the museum. Other original parts have been found at O’Keefe Ranch. “What was missing was the pendulum. We couldn’t find it,” said Candy. A letter was sent to Smith & Sons in England — the original manufacturer — to access information to recreate the pendulum. But that wasn’t necessary. “They  searched through the warehouse and they had an original pendulum,” said Candy. Volunteer Garry Garbutt is putting all of the mechanisms together, and the next step will be constructing a giant case to contain the clock. The base of the case will be nine-feet-by-nine feet and it will rise 14-feet-high. “It’s going to take up a lot of real estate,” said Candy of the museum’s cramped quarters. It’s hoped the clock will be up and running this year to celebrate its centennial, and for the first time ever, the mechanisms will be visible. “People will be able to get up close and see everything. It will be like you’re in the clock,” said Candy. For more information or to donate to the clock restoration project, call 250-542-3142.