Before Lenny Prange retired from working as a painter, he had a request. "A long time ago, I said to my boss, 'If you ever get a chance to paint the Gap Town Clock, go after it because I would like to say I painted that,'" recalled Prange. Standing in front of the 65-foot tower that houses the 1872 Seth Thomas clock, Prange said Phil Hursh of Hursh Painting Company remembered the request.
On June 2, with about a month left to work, Prange spent the day high in the air priming the tower, which is located at the intersection of Route 41 and Bridge Street in Gap. "We have three sides done at this point," said Prange, who noted that the next day thunderstorms were predicted. "Friday or Monday we will be back," said Prange. "We will prime the last side, put finish coats on, and then start trimming out." Prange noted that the paint should continue to look good for about eight to 10 years.
Kathy Stern, secretary/treasurer of the Gap Town Clock Association, said that she let Prange choose the colors for the clock tower, which are traditional white with green trim on the window surrounds, the bottom and top of the tower, and the cornice at the bell housing. She said the group had considered maroon trim, but Prange was concerned that would fade too quickly. On April 9, Hursh contacted Stern and told her about the idea to paint the clock tower. "Phil (Hursh) donated all the paint and all the labor," noted Stern. "We were really blessed with that."
Stern relayed the history of the clock, pointing out that it was originally placed on Penn Monument Hall (now home to the Town Clock Cheese Shoppe), located across Bridge Street from the clock. The brick building was named Penn Monument Hall because William Penn had made a historic visit to the area. "The clock was located (in the building) along historic Newport Pike, which is now Route 41," explained Stern, who added that freight was hauled along the route from Tidewater Harbor to Newport, Del.
Fifteen years after the clock was placed, the building was taken over by the sheriff. "Concerned townspeople stole the clock, and hid it in a nearby ice house," said Stern. "In 1892, a 65-foot tower was built for the clock."
In 1953, the Gap Town Clock Association was formed when the clock tower appeared to be doomed by the widening of Route 41. "Once again, the citizens of the area banded together and moved the tower 75 feet to its present location," said Stern. "It's an interesting story."
Clock Association member John Hilton winds the clock regularly, with association president Glenn Kendig filling in when Hilton is unavailable. "John's father used to wind it before he passed," shared Stern.
A nominal fee, which helps to preserve the clock tower, is asked of Gap Town Clock Association members. Those who would like more information may call 484-340-0116.
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