Preserving history is worthy cause

In classic literature, we all know the tale “A Tale of Two Cities.”

Today, we explore A Tale of Two Clocks.

Both clocks were once iconic landmarks in their respective communities.

In Dunkirk, roughly where the asphalt approach for the old bank drive-through now sits, stood the First State Bank of Dunkirk.

The original building is long gone, but the two-sided street clock was saved for its historic significance to Dunkirk’s once-bustling main thoroughfare.

Currently, the Dunkirk Historical Society is in the process of a full restoration. Some grant funding has been secured, but additional donations are needed to ensure the old First State Bank building clock is preserved and, hopefully, placed at the restored Webster Depot railroad building in Dunkirk.

In Redkey, the historic clock tower has stood for more than a century. In recent years, however, the clock has been out of commission.

This clock is an elaborate, old-school, gear-driven, four-faced timepiece that is currently undergoing a full restoration by local volunteers.

From 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 31, a chili supper freewill donation benefit will be held at the Old Redkey Fire Station and city building to restore the clock faces and get the old fire station clock back up and running.

Both are very worthy projects.

To donate to either, attend the chili supper in Redkey or make a donation to the Dunkirk Historical Society and designate it for the clock restoration fund.

Of course, today we live in a cellphone- and electronic device-driven society, and even classic wristwatches have largely been supplanted as a method of keeping time.

Personally, I still love those old classic clocks and their history.

They are certainly something worth restoring to their former glory.

Across the pond, a recent restoration of Big Ben in merry old England was completed, and an excellent documentary film was made about its restoration, which ran into the millions of British pounds sterling.

Here, we can save two landmark clocks for a much more reasonable price.

A tale of two cities, with very different clocks — and both very worthy causes for restoration.