After 20 years of being non-functional, the city is renovating the clock tower at City Hall. — Photos courtesy of The City of Somerville

By Harry Kane

Somerville’s landmark clock tower at City Hall is under repair, and it’s about time! It will cost roughly $3.85 million to restore the clock tower over the coming months.

The clock tower is a universal symbol of change and progress. It represents time’s passage and carries spiritual significance as it relates to synchronicity and divine timing, embodying the principles of order and precision. The clock tower is a reminder of the past and continuity for the future.

“This work is an important step in maintaining and protecting the structure and architectural details of our historic City Hall – originally constructed in 1852,” the city said in a statement.

City Hall had three distinct building campaigns, including the addition of the 1924 clock tower. Now, 100 years later, the clock tower is in need of repair, said Ralph Henry, Deputy Director of Capital Projects.

A windstorm last September caused damage to one of the clock faces.

Last September a windstorm dislodged one of the clock faces. At the time of the storm, the clock was non-functional. The tower gradually fell into disrepair and has not been operational for over 20 years.

Funding through the American Rescue Plan Act will now allow the city to repair the landmark clock tower to match its original grandeur. 

The project was pursued under emergency procurement, which requires contractors to bid, Henry explained.

Suffolk Construction Company won the contract and will complete the work in two phases.  Phase one covers the clock tower renovation and repair, which has already begun and will last through the Winter.

The roof work will be completed in the Springtime with a replacement of the slate roof as well as rubber roofing around the clock tower, as part of phase two.

Suffolk Construction Company – a national enterprise with headquarters in Boston — is ranked as the eighth on this year’s list of green contractors on Engineering News-Record’s annual “Top 100 Green Building Contractors.” The company was ranked ninth last year.

The overall height of the clock tower with the spire and weather vane is approximately 62 ft. high.

The original clock mechanism was manufactured by E. Howard & Co. – a clock manufacturer in the Boston area.

A second door is being added so maintenance staff can safely access either side of the roof without climbing over sections of the newly replaced slate roof.