PORT TOWNSEND – Those in and around the Jefferson County Courthouse on Friday heard a familiar sound that’s been silent for more than six months.
Just after the noon hour, many consecutive rounds of gongs rang throughout Port Townsend as the final test of the 114-year-old clockworks and bell.
The 12-hour cycle was squeezed into a couple of minutes to ensure that the clock and bell were working properly after being dismantled in June to be cleaned and have worn parts replaced.
“It looks to me like this clock is going to be ready for another 100 years of service,” said Bill Sperry, who worked tirelessly to rebuild the timepiece and tolling mechanism as part of the clock tower rehabilitation project that is almost finished.
