Tower Clock in Woodburn Is a Reminder to Be on Time – and Make the Most of Your Time
The clock tower in Woodburn Plaza is a point of pride for the city of Woodburn, Indiana. A drawing of the clock holds a place of honor on the city’s webpage1. The surrounding plaza has been a gathering place for community events such as pumpkin carving and live music. The clock tower was a gift from the Henney Family to the city of Woodburn, in honor of their parents. It stands at the corner of Bull Rapids Road and Main Street, where two time-worn buildings used to be. It’s become a landmark in the city, and it delivers a powerful message—”Be on time, and make the best use of it.”
A reminder to be on time might seem unnecessary today. Coronavirus has turned social distancing into the new normal across the country. With events canceled, and schools and businesses closed down, there’s less to be on time for. But a tower clock can give you more than a sense of time. It can also give you a sense of community and place. Clock towers become landmarks and tourist destinations. They speak to visitors and passers-by. They remind you of who built them, and who they were built to honor. They remind you that time is passing. And they ask you whether you’re using your time well.
From Sketch to Reality – Creating a Custom Tower Clock
The Woodburn Plaza Clock Tower began as a sketch by architect Len Mysliwiec.2 The Henneys commissioned Lumichron to build the clocks. We prepared drawings according to the architect’s specifications. The designs underwent a few changes, and we prepared submittals for approval. The final design called for a set of four 42” diameter inset-mount tower clocks—one for each side of the structure.
The custom clocks were fabricated with standard Lumichron features—some of which are not available elsewhere. Fully-enclosed aluminum cases house the clocks. An architectural-grade powdercoat finish protects the cases from the elements. Each clock face is made of UV-protected high-grade polycarbonate. The faces feature a standard modern dial design with straight tapered hour and minute hands. The face of one clock—the one visible from the intersection—features the name of the city.
An electric automatic master clock controller animates the clocks. This unique component of Lumichron clocks is manufactured by our partner Mobatime of Switzerland. The controller automatically corrects for Daylight Saving Time. A lithium battery back-up mitigates power interruptions. The faces are uniformly illuminated with warm white LED’s, which turn on at dusk and off at dawn. The controller automates this based on the GPS coordinates of Woodburn, IN. The Mobatime equipment is so dependable and durable that it requires no regular maintenance.
We built the tower clocks to spec at our facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The process took 8 weeks from ordering parts to shipping. We shipped the completed clocks to Woodburn—right on time. They arrived safely in custom-built wood crates, which contained everything needed for installation. The 4-faced clock was easily installed on the clock tower by the builders.
Woodburn Tower Clock Honors Community Pillars
The Woodburn Tower Clock Plaza was dedicated to the city of Woodburn in honor of Harry and Jeanette Henney. A large plaque inside the clock tower gives a brief biography of the couple.
Harry and Jeanette were two people who believed in the power of supporting their community. Both were committed to education and worked in local schools. Harry served as Woodburn clerk/treasurer for 25 years. He was also a member of the Lion’s Club. Jeanette assisted with many local organizations. They were also active in their church.4 The plaque ends with these words, “Throughout their lives the Henneys demonstrated their love for this community not only with their labor, but also with their hearts.”
With the community gathered around, Floyd Henney, son of Harry and Jeanette, spoke at the dedication ceremony. “Time was very important to Harry,” said Mr. Henney said of his father. “Don’t be late….don’t be late, because there wasn’t going to be a second chance. Time is something we all have, and we all have a responsibility to do with it as we choose.”
He challenged the community to ask themselves a question every time they pass the clock tower in the plaza. “What are you doing with your time? Because you’re never going to get another second back. And you have no promise of another minute. So it’s a reminder. Don’t be late, and be on time, and make the best use of it.”5 These words ring truer than ever today.
Tower Clocks Are a Reminder to Make the Most of Your Time
At this strange point in history, community gatherings are suspended and it seems like time is standing still. But the Woodburn Clock Tower is a reminder to passers-by that they are part of something greater. Outings these days might be limited to essential errands and picking up food from local restaurants. And yet the hands on the clock tower continue to move. Time is passing, whether or not we do something with it. The clock tower reminds us not only to be on time but to use our time well.
Looking for ways to maximize your time and give back to the community? We’ve compiled a list of things you can do to help with the current COVID-19 crisis here. But you don’t have to go far to make the most of your time. You could send a card to a friend. You could play a game with your kids. You could learn a new skill or finally do that project you’ve been putting off. Whatever you choose to do, take responsibility for your time. Will you look back and wish you could have this time back? Or will you be remembered for the way you’ve used these seconds, minutes and hours?
The next time you drive past a tower clock in your city or town, perhaps it will remind you to be on time for the things that really matter. And to use your time well, because these next few minutes, hours and days won’t ever happen again. They are ours to use, or not.
If you’re thinking about adding a tower clock to your next project, request a quote. We’d love to make time for you.
Resources
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1 https://www.cityofwoodburn.org/
2 https://www.westbendnews.net/autonews/2016/06/02/visions-of-woodburn-plaza/
3 https://www.westbendnews.net/autonews/2017/07/13/clock-tower-dedication-takes-place-in-woodburn/
4 https://www.kpcnews.com/community/article_3267b6f4-b246-5236-89ab-634fd170ad43.html
5 https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/clock-tower-dedicated-in-memory-of-2-woodburn-residents/
