A beautiful clock that originally hung outside the First State Bank of Dunkirk, IN, has returned to its hometown, refurbished and reinstalled at a new location in Dunkirk.
Founded in 1893 by Edwin Reed and Earl W. Merry of Ohio, the First State Bank was located on Main Street where the current bank's drive-thru is located. The original bank building was demolished in the mid-1970s, but the clock was saved and acquired by John Hickman and Ann Butler.
The clock, made by the McClintock Loomis Company of Minnesota sometime between 1908 and 1917, consists of two parts: a master and a secondary clock. The indoor master clock controlled the secondary clock which was mounted on the exterior of the building.
In 1998, both parts of the clock were donated to Minnetrista by Ann Butler and John Hickman. Minnetrista had planned to have the clock restored and put on display, but plans changed and the cost of restoration was deemed prohibitive. It was then stored for many years in a mechanical room in the Center building until the decision was made in 2022 to deaccession it from the collection and either return it to Dunkirk or find another appropriate home where it could be restored and enjoyed. The Dunkirk Historical Society was contacted, and they indicated that they wanted to have it back in Dunkirk with the hope of restoring and displaying it somewhere.
The clock was transferred to Dunkirk in June 2023 and put in storage until funds could be raised for restoration. In 2024, the historical society moved to a new location in the historic Dunkirk Depot building and in 2025 received permission from the depot owner to install the clock on the front lawn there. Fundraising began for the work on the clock, and the group was able to secure the $70,000 needed for the project.
Research to find a restoration company came down to two possibilities: Tower Clocks USA of Charleston, SC, and Americlock of St. Louis, MO. A reference for Tower Clocks USA and their owner's knowledge of McClintock Loomis clocks determined the selection for the project.
In June 2025 the clock was shipped to Charleston for restoration and refurbishment. The secondary clock was completely disassembled, metal parts repaired, sandblasted, and refinished. The clock faces were replaced with identical replicas in acrylic, LED backlighting added, new clock movements and control system installed, and the bronze “Westminster Chime” bells were reinstalled with electromagnetic strikers. In the existing master clock cabinet, the movement and pendulum operating system were replaced.
Tower Clocks USA brought both pieces back to Dunkirk and installation took place on June 2, 2026. During the twelve-hour process, a steel mounting post was put on a concrete base that the historical society had installed and electrical connections were made. Then, using a lift, Tower Clocks USA began the careful reassembly of the secondary clock. The chimes were set for abbreviated sound on the quarter hour and full chime on the hour. The master clock was put on display inside the depot.
Be sure to stop by and see both clock pieces in their new home location at the Dunkirk Historical Society in the Historic Pennsylvania Railroad Depot, 132 Railroad Street, Dunkirk, Indiana, 47336. Museum hours are 10:00 to 1:00 each third Friday and Saturday of the month.