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  • Sub-contractors Terry West, left, and Robert Bottorff take measurements on the clock tower and front facade of the Second Baptist Church during a structural analysis of the historic building in downtown New Albany on Wednesday morning. Staff photo by Christopher Fryer

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  • Contractors Dave, left, and Frank Delbridge look over the clock tower and front facade of the Second Baptist Church during a structural analysis of the historic building in downtown New Albany on Wednesday morning. Staff photo by Christopher Fryer

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  • Structural engineer Carl Slesser and architect Larry Timperman take photographs of the clock tower and front facade of the Second Baptist Church during a structural analysis of the historic building in downtown New Albany on Wednesday morning. Staff photo by Christopher Fryer

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  • The weather-worn clock tower of the Second Baptist Church sits on top of the aging structure in downtown New Albany on Wednesday morning. A crane was used to do a structural analysis for possible restorations on the historic building that was erected in the mid-nineteenth century. Staff photo by Christopher Fryer

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  • Exposed wood shows through on the face of the Second Baptist Church clock tower in downtown New Albany on Wednesday morning. A crane was used to do a structural analysis for possible restorations on the historic building that was erected in the mid-nineteenth century. Staff photo by Christopher Fryer

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  • Aging woodwork sits on the front facade of the Second Baptist Church in downtown New Albany on Wednesday morning. A crane was used to do a structural analysis for possible restorations on the historic building that was erected in the mid-nineteenth century. Staff photo by Christopher Fryer

    06_28_clock_06w.jpg

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June 30, 2012

RACE AGAINST TIME: Effort underway to restore Second Baptist Church’s clock tower

By CHRIS MORRIS chris.morris@newsandtribune.com

NEW ALBANY — New Albany’s Town Clock Church, home to the Second Baptist Church at 300 E. Main St., was once a symbol of freedom for slaves living in Kentucky. That symbol has been an important piece of New Albany’s history as it served as a section of the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves.

For more than 160 years the church, and its famous clock, has welcomed all to New Albany. But weather and time have caused the wood around the tower to deteriorate, which has threatened its future.

However, several community groups are determined to restore the tower for New Albany’s bicentennial celebration next year. The first step to repair the structure took place early Wednesday morning.

Architect Larry Timperman with Michell Timperman Ritz and others were transported to the top of the clock tower in a cage hoisted by a Padgett crane to get a better look at its condition. While some of the wood around the tower was rotted, Timperman said it is definitely worth saving.

“I did see some roofing over a section of the tower that was pulled away that you couldn’t see from the ground. From that point of view, it was a little worse than I had expected. A lot of repairs need to take place,” he said. “It needs a lot of care and restoration, but structurally, it seems sound.”

The Floyd County Historical Society is aiding Second Baptist in its attempt to garner an Indiana Landmarks grant that would fund a structural analysis of the building. Timperman also said the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County has shown some interest in restoring the clock tower.

Second Baptist is celebrating its 145th year as a congregation in 2012, and the body began worshipping at the Town Clock Church in 1889. The Rev. LeRoy Marshall is helping lead the push to restore the clock. He said in an earlier article that the church has about 25 active members.

Timperman said he will put together an analysis from Wednesday’s tour with photos before officials proceed with the next step toward restoration.

“The No. 1 thing for us to do now is to stabilize it and make it presentable in a way that it will last for 20 years,” Timperman said. “The goal is to get the exterior of the facility stabilized for the bicentennial.”

Timperman said there has been talk of adding the steeple back to the church, which stood 60 feet atop the clock. Historians estimate the steeple was destroyed by lightning around 1919. However, he said that would take more money and would have to meet certain criteria since the church is a historic structure.

“It would be nice to put it back, but it depends on funds available,” Timperman said.

To help Second Baptist raise funds, the historical society also has donated prints of a James Russell painting of the church that was rendered in the 1980s. The Carnegie Center for Art and History also has plans to aid the church in its restoration efforts.

“To me, this is probably one of the most important buildings in our whole community,” said Floyd County Historian Dave Barksdale. “We want this jewel to sparkle in 2013.”

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