TAMAQUA - It has been more than a half-century since a clock has kept time at the former First National Bank.
On Thursday, the bank's clock - complete with stained glass and melodic chimes - began ticking again at the 118 W. Broad St. property, now the home of the Tamaqua Historical Society.
"I'm very excited," said Lois Breiner as she watched employees from Bartush Sign Co., Orwigsburg, drill anchor holes into the building's facade.
Breiner stayed while crews installed the clock, the accompanying First National sign and a dedication plaque crediting her with donating the piece in memory of her parents, Henry and Mary Breiner.
Henry Breiner was an employee of the bank before it was taken over by the former Miners National Bank of Pottsville. When Miners moved in 1960, the clock was replaced with one bearing Miners' name.
At that point, the clock was about 50 years old, according to society president Dale Freudenberger, who traced its installation back to 1911.
Rather than see the clock scrapped, Lois Breiner said her father took it.
"He just wanted it because he thought it was a great clock. He just loved clocks," she said.
The clock was stored inside Henry's garage in the South Ward section of Tamaqua. Lois came across it five years ago and contacted Freudenberger.
"She explained it to me because I didn't remember it. It was before my time," he said. "I thought that it was going to be a wall clock. She told me that it was 7 feet tall. When (historical society members) went over to see it, we almost fell over."
Freudenberger described the clock as "absolutely spectacular." Manufactured by the O.B. McClintock Co. in Minneapolis, Minn., it is double-sided with stained glass and is illuminated from within.
Lois donated the piece to the historical society and for two years, it was displayed at the museum. The society eventually contacted Bartush to have the sign restored.
"We didn't know it had chimes inside until they started pulling it apart," Freudenberger said.
Thanks to an electronic upgrade, the chimes will play a Westminster melody and chime every half and full hour.
"Even with the upgrade, it still sounds original," Freudenberger said.
During the 18-month restoration, crews also re-leaded the stained glass and tweaked the clock's inner workings.
Bartush crews spent the better part of the morning and early afternoon Thursday on the re-installation, and relied on a crane to hoist the antique into place.
Lois said her father, who worked at banks long after First National closed, would have been pleased to know the clock is working again.
