Historic clock finds new home

by Staff Pioneer Times
17 years ago

By Karen Donato-Duff
Staff Writer
    The clock that hung in Houlton’s Bangor & Aroostook Railroad Station’s waiting room on Florence Avenue from 1894 until 1962, when the station was torn down, is now part of the Aroostook Historical and Art Museum’s collection of historic clocks.
ImagePioneer Times photo/Ben Austin
PIECE OF HISTORY — This B&A Clock graced the walls of the home of Bill Cumming on Elm Street from 1968 until 2008 when it was given to the Aroostook Historical and Art Museum by his daughter, Lois.
    When the station was torn down, the clock was stored in the Bangor and Aroostook freight shed, and later came into the possession of B&A employee Glen Ingraham.  In typical Aroostook tradition, the clock was “swapped” by Mr. Ingraham with William “Bill” Cumming for a large square clock in January 1964.  The clock was placed on the wall in Mr. Cumming’s West End Drug Store.  When Mr. Cumming sold the drug store in 1968, the clock was taken down and hung in his home on Elm Street.  It remained there until it was taken down this summer.
    Bill Cumming passed away in 1995 at the age of 102, and his daughter Lois Cumming has presented the clock to the historical society in his memory. 
ImagePioneer Times photo/Ben Austin
IN MEMORIAM — Lois Cumming, daughter of the late Bill Cumming of Houlton is shown with local historian, Leigh Cummings, as the one hundred and fifteen year old clock is moved from her Elm Street residence to the Aroostook Historical and Art Museum in Houlton.  This clock was donated in her father’s memory.
    Town Councilman Walter Goodrich, who has expertise in clock repair has graciously offered to inspect the clock for running condition, after which it will become part of the museum’s display of historic clocks.  Included in the display is Houlton’s first clock (1819) and one presented to George S. Gentle Company in appreciation for service.
    Passenger rail service to Houlton started on Christmas Day in 1893 with prominent resident Fred Putnam as a passenger.  The first train came in on tracks laid on frozen ground and snow.