During the week of Feb. 2 to 6, the hands of the iconic Wood County clock tower were seemingly frozen in time.
The Wood County clock tower, affixed to the Wood County courthouse, was originally built in 1893. Rising over Bowling Green at 195 feet, it held the second-largest clock hands in America at the time of its construction and to this day, still uses the original chimes, according to Ohio the Heart of It All.
The clock tower has experienced a few malfunctions over its 130-year existence. It previously struck five minutes too fast in 2018, as reported by Bowling Green residents to the BG Independent News. For several months in 2020, the hands of the clock tower were stuck at 4:21, according to WTOL 11.
So, did the shockingly cold weather of last week freeze time in 2026?
According to Alex Aspacher, the director of communications for Wood County, it did not.
“Our maintenance staff decided to turn off the clock to prevent any damage that could occur due to the recent mix of cold weather and precipitation,” Aspacher explained the preventative measure. “Over the years, our staff has learned that conditions like winter weather can cause damage to clock parts that can sometimes be challenging to replace.”
Pausing the clock was necessary to preserve this historical landmark. Now, as these conditions have subsided, the clock tower functions once more.
“We are all very committed to maintaining its history and beauty,” Aspacher continued. “Getting to enjoy these aesthetics is certainly a perk of working for the county.”
However, historic buildings must comply with stricter codes for renovation and maintenance to align with their integrity.
“An older building can’t always adapt to today’s needs, so we have had to make some changes over the years,” Aspacher said, alluding to current renovations the courthouse is undergoing in subsequent months.
“When seeking an architect in 2024 to evaluate the layout and possibly reshape space on the first floor of the courthouse, the county specifically sought a firm with experience renovating courthouses and other historic buildings,” Aspacher noted the current measures of the city to preserve this Wood County emblem.
Judge Matt Reger, a Wood County common pleas judge at the courthouse, offered his perspective on this ongoing remodeling and restoration.
“We are continually doing the balancing act…To make it work in this building, we have to do a lot of extra work,” Reger explained. “My office is undergoing a renovation to update it and to modernize it while giving it some touches that recognize that the building was built in the 19th century.”
After 130 years, this remarkable piece of history continues to watch over Bowling Green from its seat of justice.
Learn more about the clocktower and courthouse’s history on the Ohio Channel: https://www.ohiochannel.org/programs/ohio-courthouses-seats-of-justice-wood-county
Take a virtual tour of the courthouse with Judge Matt Reger: https://youtu.be/ZPqb5ZM4hsg?feature=shared
