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The Goal is to rebuild the clock to last another 100 years.
Photos listed 1997, May 2023 and Jan 2024. |
Who Are We?
In 2012, a former Willard-dite Rick Reed started and led a project to save what we had left of the Willard Clock Tower. Rick was born and raised in Willard, graduated high school here and moved away in 1985 to pursue a career in broadcast radio and eventually become a director for the March of Dimes in Indiana. Rick concluded the project in May 2023 by leading his team to the construction and installation of the tower at Pearl and Myrtle Avenue. Rick wrote a history of Willard book that raised about $80,000 toward the project part of his donation as well as 12 years leading and coordinating the project.
Who is Rick Reed?
After a successful career, Rick who is now retired wanted to give back to his hometown. During his time in Indiana he was a volunteer for many civic and non profit groups and after retirement wanted to give something back to Willard, his home town. Rick has won many awards from these groups for event and money raised as a result of fundraising programs and projects he came up with in Columbus, Indiana and for the Indiana chapter of the March of Dimes. One program he started in 1991 still raises on average 1.2 million dollars a year for the March of Dimes on a national level to this day. He had long been interested in what happened to the Willard clock tower. When he found it rotting away in a city lot in weeds, he made the decision to see about saving it and rebuilding it.
The Save Willard's Clock group is made up of local people with a Willard passion! A teacher, business owner, 3 retired printer employees, a pastor and chamber leader, a City manager, a retired media representative and director of a state charity. Some with other business backgrounds and experience.
The group has come a long way in saving and protecting what we have left of the clock. The parts are now in a warehouse in St. Louis, Missouri waiting to be cleaned, repaired and reassembled into a new tower that will last another 100 years.
The new Clock Plaza construction has been built and named after Roy Doster another Willardite who also gave back throughout his life in Willard. The new tower will sit at the corner of Pearl street and Myrtle avenue.
We'll add in a new electronic clock mechanism, refurbish the bell, add new glass faces that will be back-lit to see the time at night on all four sides of the clock. The clock will look like it did in 1914 when it was finished.
Willard has lost too much history and NOW IS THE TIME to stop that and save one piece of Chicago Junction history for future generations. Rick and the Save Willard's Clock Committee invites you to join others as we all bridge the past with the future.
We live Willard, breathe Willard, because we believe in Willard. Own a business and want to be part of this? Do you have the passion for Willard as well? Let us know. You are welcome to jump on-board!
We strive to give groups, business and individuals an opportunity to empower themselves to better the community for the future.
THE TIME IS NOW. Scroll down for PowerPoint of what we had and where we are going with this.
Who is Rick Reed?
After a successful career, Rick who is now retired wanted to give back to his hometown. During his time in Indiana he was a volunteer for many civic and non profit groups and after retirement wanted to give something back to Willard, his home town. Rick has won many awards from these groups for event and money raised as a result of fundraising programs and projects he came up with in Columbus, Indiana and for the Indiana chapter of the March of Dimes. One program he started in 1991 still raises on average 1.2 million dollars a year for the March of Dimes on a national level to this day. He had long been interested in what happened to the Willard clock tower. When he found it rotting away in a city lot in weeds, he made the decision to see about saving it and rebuilding it.
The Save Willard's Clock group is made up of local people with a Willard passion! A teacher, business owner, 3 retired printer employees, a pastor and chamber leader, a City manager, a retired media representative and director of a state charity. Some with other business backgrounds and experience.
The group has come a long way in saving and protecting what we have left of the clock. The parts are now in a warehouse in St. Louis, Missouri waiting to be cleaned, repaired and reassembled into a new tower that will last another 100 years.
The new Clock Plaza construction has been built and named after Roy Doster another Willardite who also gave back throughout his life in Willard. The new tower will sit at the corner of Pearl street and Myrtle avenue.
We'll add in a new electronic clock mechanism, refurbish the bell, add new glass faces that will be back-lit to see the time at night on all four sides of the clock. The clock will look like it did in 1914 when it was finished.
Willard has lost too much history and NOW IS THE TIME to stop that and save one piece of Chicago Junction history for future generations. Rick and the Save Willard's Clock Committee invites you to join others as we all bridge the past with the future.
We live Willard, breathe Willard, because we believe in Willard. Own a business and want to be part of this? Do you have the passion for Willard as well? Let us know. You are welcome to jump on-board!
We strive to give groups, business and individuals an opportunity to empower themselves to better the community for the future.
THE TIME IS NOW. Scroll down for PowerPoint of what we had and where we are going with this.
The best outcomes come from people who care about their passions!
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Thank you for looking at our website to save our hometown clock! Have you made your donation yet? The Time is NOW! See the donation button above to download a form and send in.