Centuries-old haunted clock restored
Treasured antique at Governor's Mansion receives face lift

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


_{Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Horologist Thomas Bartels winds up the 275-year-old grandfather clock for the first time on Wednesday at the Governor's Mansion. Bartels restored the George Fowler Grandfather clock to working order.}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rhonda Costa-Landers
Appeal Staff Writer, rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com
August 4, 2007

Thomas J. Bartels was able to repair and restore a 275-year-old grandfather clock in the Governor's Mansion. Time will tell if the repairs have any effect on the ghost rumored to be lurking inside.

Bartels, of Gardnerville, was contacted by Helen Wiemer, mansion coordinator, to assess the 275-year-old George Fowler grandfather clock, and, if possible, repair and restore it. And that's just what he did.

"... on the front is intricate Chinese work," Wiemer said. "He removed the finish and here was this beautiful work."





_{Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Horologist Thomas Bartels, right, along with assistant Roger Sweningsen assemble a 275-year-old grandfather clock on Wednesday at the Governor's Mansion. The George Fowler Grandfather clock is said by mansion staff to be haunted.}


The motif of Japanese-style art was applied by putting a layer of plaster of paris to create three-dimensional images of the figures in the scenes. The plaster was followed by coats of primer paint, which is blue in the Fowler clock, then gold leafed and painted with transparent colors and then varnished.

Bartels restored damaged artwork by regluing every joint in the case and adding glue blocks where necessary. He said some of the wood trim and base was destroyed by infestation and dry rot.

Bartels is a Fellow for the National Association of Watch and Coin Collectors. There are about 200,000 members, and Bartels is one of only 60 members who are a Silver Star Fellow.

Nevada's first lady Dawn Gibbons expressed her appreciation for Bartels donating his time to complete the restoration, and will present him with a certificate at the mansion.

"The clock is in operable condition - although the strike was disabled at the request of the mansion staff - and keeps good time," Bartels said of the clock, which had not worked for many years.

Wiemer, who worked nearly eight years with the Millers and four years with the Guinns, has heard her share of "noises" at the mansion, including the doors of the clock opening and slamming shut.

"People see a woman in a white gown or dress, walking around the mansion. Sometimes the doors of the clock will come open without a wind or anything.

"One day I put the lights on and went on the outside balcony, and there was nothing there but a piece of very old cloth, old and yellow. And of all things, an old rusty jar lid with it.

"But the door to the clock opens regularly, then slams shut. It's really strange."

Bartels said those accounts should be written down.

"It is not difficult to believe such stories arose over the years about the clock, which, being over 275 years old has developed some idiosyncrasies in its operation that might lead to such conjecture."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE

I wish they had some better pictures of the clock itself. I wonder why the staff wanted the strike disabled? Must've either been really annoying or really creepy sounding.

That's really interesting.
I love grandfather clocks, though the strikes can get rather irritating.
And i agree, they should have had some better pictures of the clock itself.
Me being an art freak and with them talking about it... grr... i wanna see more!
lol

haunted clock? lol funny, i've even heard of ghosts being strong enough to start up cars and fix cars, people fixing clocks don't revive ghosts or anything, the clock is either way haunted or not (although it does sound extremelly silly), still, such an old clock must be beautiful to have.

I'm not surprised myself that a grandfather clock could be haunted, given the clock's age. I've heard of spirits controlling all kinds of devices, so it doesn't seem unusual to me that a spirit could possibly take control of a clock.

I just think it's cool that a clock of that size has managed to survive for 275 years. That clock has seen a loooot of history. I guess it wouldn't be too hard to believe that it may be residually haunted if nothing else.

the same thing seems to happen sometimes to the old mirrors...with crystal surface
i don't like the awareness of having such mirror at my parent's house...it gives me chills every time i look at it

There are actually old tales telling of Grandfather Clocks housing demons and such so i'm not surprised to hear about it.
Plus i do agree that it is interesting that a clock has survived that long.

Never seen an old mirror in my life, what could creep you out a bit is a VERY old chair late at night lol..

especially one that rocks by itself...
now that's creepy!

yep, the kind of chair that's right next to a window and seeing the curtains blow in tenderly..

have u guys seen smething like that on vid? I have, its freaky.