The Town Clock
According to “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” the only Town clock in the world that strikes on ship’s time is located on Main Street in the steeple of the 1850’s First Congregational Church.
In 1952 with $500.00 raised by the town, Lawrence Gardinier, a town selectman and tinker shop owner, built and assembled the clock mechanism and the bells. Bells chime on the half hour thus the half hours are struck by adding one stroke to the corresponding even hours.
“two bells”at one, five, and nine o’clock
“four bells”at two, six, and ten o’clock
“six bells” at three, seven and eleven o’clock
“eight bells” at four, eight and twelve o’clock
Thus one bell at 12:30, two bells at 1:00, three bells at 1:30, four bells at 2:00. The
cycle repeats. The clock tower still serves as a beacon to boaters approaching the harbor today.