Clocktower Returns to Montgomery Co. Courthouse

A dedication ceremony is set for June 17.

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After more than 20 years of fundraising, the Montgomery County Clocktower has been rebuilt and returned to the county courthouse in Crawfordsville. A group of community leaders has been working on the effort since 1996, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process.

James Marion Kirtley, a former physician, county commissioner and state senator, joined Sandra and Luther Lofland to help him start work on the project in 1996. Kirtley passed away in 2000, but the rest of the group carried on the effort. The Montgomery County Courthouse Clock Tower Committee says city and county leaders along with hundreds of volunteers supported the cause.

The clocktower sat on top of the courthouse before World War II. It was taken down during the war because it was reported to be leading, although funding was not available for repairs. Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton says the return of the tower sends "a clear message that we take great pride in our community" and will enhance the downtown experience for residents and visitors.

A dedication ceremony is set for June 17.