Historic bell tolls again at Springfield Armory National Historic Site as phase II of clock restoration is complete
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Superintendent Kelly Fellner is pleased to announce that the four historic clocks and bell on the Main Arsenal building are once again in working order thanks to the efforts of the Friends of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. About Time Restoration, LLC based out of Higganum, Connecticut worked with the National Park Service and Friends of Springfield Armory on both phases of the rehabilitation project. Phase I, completed in 2015, replaced the 400-pound gravity driven clock system installed in 1850
with a computer system. The recently completed phase II replaced the drive gear system through the installation of drive motors to electronically control the arms on each of the four clock faces.
There are three clock faces on the tower and one clock face on the west-facing façade of the building. Constructed from 1847 to 1850 a unique feature of the Main Arsenal building is the 84.5 fee high clock tower with a self-supported spiral staircase going up six floors to the base of the flagpole with no center support column. Atop the 30-foot clock tower sits a 3.5-foot bell cast in 1848 at Meneely’s Foundry in Troy, New York. The flag, tower and clocks are visible throughout Springfield, and are featured prominently on the city’s seal.
Friends of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site President Neil Daboul stated, “We want to help preserve the 200-year history of the Springfield Armory by sharing the stories of invention, innovation and how great ideas were put into action to produce the finest firearms for the U.S. military." The bell rings on the hour and can be heard on the Armory grounds outside of the Main Arsenal building at One Armory Square on the Springfield Technical Community College campus. Visit the Springfield Armory Museum to learn more about the clock tower and Springfield Armory. The museum is free and open to the public Wednesday through Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
ABOUT THE PARK: Springfield Armory National Historic Site is the location of the nation’s first armory (1794 - 1968) and was established by George Washington. The site includes historic grounds, buildings, and the world’s largest historic American military firearms collection. For updates and further information call (413) 734-8551, check the website at www.nps.gov/spar or go to www.facebook.com/sparnhs.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service