Jefferson County has received $500,000 more in its quest to rehabilitate the shaky clock tower over the county courthouse in Port Townsend.
The state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation awarded the grant to Jefferson County to accompany a previous $450,000 grant last spring.
That provides almost a cool million toward the $2.4 million estimated for a rebuilding project to shore up the 113-year-old tower over the oldest operating courthouse in Washington state.
Allen Sartin, Jefferson County director of central services, said that the clock tower worry is mainly wind load.
“If the winds get up to 70 miles per hour, we have to look at evacuating the building,” Sartin said.
The tower is essentially just brick and mortar, so four strengthening rods will be installed, Sartin said.
Also, concrete flooring will replace what is now wood floors in the tower, and the stairwell leading up to the tower will be renovated.
Bell to be repaired
The clock’s bell, which tolls using much of its original parts, has been operating intermittently since August and will also be repaired.
Although the construction is mainly to guard against wind, seismic retrofitting is being included as well in case of earthquake.
Sartin said that $2.4 million has been budgeted for the clock tower portion of the estimated $35 million project that will eventually rehabilitate the entire courthouse.
