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Community members went before the board late last year to urge the board to go forward with the clock, which they said would help tie together the vast improvements that a Main Street redevelopment project has brought to Upper Lake.
At that time, the board voted to require the town to raise 25 percent of the new clock's cost, which is estimated to cost about $16,000, as Lake County News has reported.
District 3 Supervisors Denise Rushing said the Upper Lake Women's Protective Club stepped up to lead the effort to raise the $4,000.
Club member Shalean Smith told the board that the group was nervous and “a little bit worried” when they took up the fundraising task Dec. 2.
However, they found themselves supported by enormous generosity not just from within Upper Lake but from around the county, she said.
Despite the fact that donating was a challenge for some people in these hard times, the result was that they have raised more than $5,000, well beyond their goal, Smith said.
“It was a very positive thing,” said Smith. “It was great for the community and for everyone to take ownership of the town clock.”
Rushing thanked the Women's Protective Club and said she found it “absolutely amazing” that the group – who put the original clock in place in 1914 – stepped up once again. She gave Smith a lot of credit for the project's success.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox said the county is working on the clock selection process.
“We've been looking at different companies and trying to get the best price we can,” said Cox, adding that they want to solicit sealed bids because they believe that will assist with good pricing.
He said Deputy Redevelopment Director Eric Seely has done a lot of research on the clock. “It is costly,” said Cox, noting that in addition to the base price, there will be a significant amount required for shipping.
As part of the fundraising effort, Rushing said one citizen turned Upper Lake's Main Street into a toll road one day.
She was referring to Joe Fernandez, who raised more than $1,100 on Jan. 13 (See a story about Fernandez's effort here, Community rallies to raise funds for Upper Lake clock ).
“People were giving money and didn't even know why,” Smith said, which elicited laughter in the board chamber.
“We might want to borrow him for some other community projects,” Cox quipped.
Supervisor Jeff Smith said a project like this “seems to bring a town closer together.”
He asked if they had any luck in trying to find out whatever happened to the old town clock.
Shalean Smith said town members followed several leads, and Bernie Butcher, owner of the Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon & Cafe – who she said is a bit of a historian himself – tried tracking it down, but had no luck.
“Quite honestly we're kind of glad,” she said.
Rushing explained that many of the Women's Protective Club members remembered how extensively the old clock had been vandalized.
Cox said it will be important to find a clock with a proven mechanism so it doesn't require constant maintenance. He said they have had good luck with the town clock in courthouse square in Lakeport, and they want to find one that will last for decades.
Supervisor Jim Comstock said he originally thought that requiring the town to raise 25 percent was excessive and he had supported a 10-percent contribution. He congratulated the community on its efforts.
Board Chair Anthony Farrington said he had been optimistic that the town could do it.
“We will honor our end and keep that money appropriated,” he said.
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