The fact the new 15-foot clock tower at Hinsdale’s train depot has a vintage look is just fine with Hinsdale Rotary Club and village officials.
“It looks like it has been there for 50 years, and really fits in with downtown Hinsdale,” said Rotary member Gregg Donnelly, following the formal dedication of the clock Aug. 20.
During a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, Village President Tom Cauley and past Rotary Club President Roger Herring summarized the role the clock will play for future generations of Hinsdale residents.
“This clock is more than just a beautiful clock. It is a symbol of the tremendous work the Rotary Club has done for the village of Hinsdale, how much the organization has done to benefit our residents,” Cauley said.
Time was of the essence, as Cauley and Herring had eight minutes to make their remarks between trains arriving and leaving the station.
“We each had about four minutes, and we got it done without interruption,” said Herring, who led the effort to obtain the clock in honor of the Rotary Club’s 50th anniversary.
“This is a community project that truly commemorates our mission of service above self,” Herring said.
Throughout the past half century, the Hinsdale Rotary Club has supported a variety of local causes, including raising money for scholarships, Hinsdale Community Service, Hinsdale Food Pantry and the Wellness House.
The organization also has supported global causes, including the development of a water supply system in Mexico and other humanitarian relief efforts, Herring said.
The four-sided clock is located just east of the station’s ticket office on the south side of the tracks. The site includes an arrangement of about 300 pavers — about 160 already have been engraved with names of donors — set about the clock.
Brian McElwain, co-chairman of the village’s Beautification Task Force, praised the clock and its placement.
“The clock honors Rotary without being ostentatious. I think it looks great,” McElwain said.
The clock, installed Aug. 7, is black cast aluminum, and cost $28,000, Herring said.
“It took almost two years to coordinate the program, but the clock now officially belongs to the village and its residents,” Herring said.
Cauley said the clock evokes the image of an old fashioned, small town main street while providing the highest quality in time display.
“It looks great, but it also is state of the art in that if we have a power outage downtown — and we have had our share — it will re-set to the correct time,” Cauley said.
