b'Telling TimeColumbia High Schools clock tower may soon get its fix.BY ELLEN DONKERThe HSA beautification committee is raising funds to fix the Columbia High School clock tower.P attyOConnellsurelyisntthea Gothic central tower. Also built within the tower isand clean it will be $16,000. the beautification only one who has noticed that thea custom clock by the E. Howard Clock Company,With the proposal approved, clocktoweratColumbiaHighfeaturing four massive dials facing out from each side School doesnt keep time. She re- of the tower and connected to an historic bell.marks, I think its said 9:10 forWhen Matters Magazine last ran a story on the the past 20 years. But she and fel- clock tower in January 2017, CHS alumna (2008) low members of the HSA Beauti- MargaretBrier,aclockenthusiast,hadrecently fication Committee, Leah Gomberg and Matt Glass,toured and inspected it. Although she couldnt find are the first to do something about it.anyone to tell her when the clock had ceased op-Of course, the committee has a long list of proj- erating, she pronounced it fixable, finding all the ectsitwouldliketoseecompletedanalmostparts present and intact. Her hope was that someday 100-year-old building needs constant maintenancesoon the resources could be found to fix it beforebut restoring the clock tower is its top priority, sothe clock met a rusty death. She said, This is a rare much so that OConnell and Gomberg are stayingtower clock in acceptable condition, and it should on the committee even though their children havebe restored to a place of pride for CHS graduates all graduated (Glass has a rising senior).and members of the community.Columbia High School, favored for its Gothic Re- The beautification committee agrees. After con-vival style, is known as a standout among schools. Inducting research to find a firm to restore the clock, fact, Architectural Digest selected it as the most beau- themembersconnectedwithElderhorstBellsof tiful high school in New Jersey. Designed in 1926 byPalm, PA. With an impressive portfolio of historic the Newark-based architectural firm of Guilbert andtower clock restoration for other institutions such Betelle, Columbia High School was intended to be theas universities, train stations and landmarks (South(L-R) Leah Gomberg, Matt Glass and Patty OConnell jewel of the school district with its indoor swimmingOranges Village Hall among them), the committeeare members of the Columbia High School beautifica-pool,separatefull-sizedgymnasiumsforboysandfound it to be the only company on the East Coasttion committee. The colorful utility box behind thema beautifully rendered map of the districts schoolsis girls, and an astronomical observatory housed withinqualified to fix the CHS clock. The cost to restoreone of the committees recent projects.38/ matters magazine / school 2023'