A Jackson County Resident is raising money to restore the clock that sits at the top of the Jackson County Courthouse.
Resident Ray Cockerham said the historic clock is a Seth Thomas clock and was installed in 1927. Cockerham said the clock has four sides but currently does not display the correct time on either side. Cockerham said the clock is a beautiful piece of Gainesboro’s history.
“Gainesboro has been in a little bit of disrepair for several years now, and I believe an army in terminology, esprit de corps,” Cockerham said. “It would boost people’s morale and give life back to them in this town.”
Cockerham said repairing the clock may be tough, as the company that made the clock no longer exists. Cockerham said he is trying to find a clock expert to look at the clock.
“I’ve talked with several folks and they say they know a little bit about clocks,” Cockerham said. “I’ve also been hitting, it’s a national clock workers organization, and they say there’s a gentleman within that organization that says he can line somebody up that’s within Middle Tennessee that can help me with the clock itself.”
Cockerham said he has started a GoFundMe page called “Restore Gainesboro’s Historic 1927 Seth Thomas clock” to raise money for the project. Cockerham said an unofficial quote to restore the clock is an estimated $50,000.
“I don’t know if it will need that, but that was for the clock itself,” Cockerham said. ” Of course, the tower above the clock has seen some better days itself. So I want to put a covering on the clock itself, so I want to get it under $100,000 to get the whole thing fixed.”
Cockerham said if he raises more money than needed, the additional money would go to a maintenance fund for the clock. Cockerham said he has reached out to the county and the chamber of commerce, and he said both believe restoring the clock is a good idea.
Those who would like to donate to the GoFundMe page can find an online link at the Restore Gainesboro’s Clock Facebook page.