Schenectady city hall clock tower undergoing restoration

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy announced the rehabilitation of the city hall clock tower is underway. Crews will work to restore the historic structure for several months starting Monday.

“It adds to the history and vibrancy of the electric city,” said Mayor Gary McCarthy. He said the restoration project will make the clock tower attractive and stable. 

“There’s just some deterioration in the wood where it’s weathering and it’s part of the aging process which happens to all of us,” said McCarthy. 

The clock tower was built with the original city hall in the 1930s. It landed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. But then, in 1983, the wooden clock tower caught fire as it was undergoing renovations. It was rebuilt in the following years, with a rededication ceremony in 1986. 

Mid State Industries won the bid for the restoration project in 2024. The mayor said it’s important for the city to maintain and preserve the structure for the next generation. 

Historically, clock towers were used to regulate time for the community and served as an alert system.

“Bells in general have been used historically to announce visiting dignitaries, the opening and closing of public buildings, the changing of public officials, or when a significant individual has passed away. And they ring the bells during funerals, things like that,” said Schenectady County Historical Society Librarian and Archivist Marietta Carr.

She admires the history and architecture. “It’s a beautiful building overall and it has a lot of architectural features and decorations that are less and less common nowadays,” said Carr.

On Tuesday a crane will be stationed on Liberty Street, moving material to the roof. Then on Thursday…

“Work will move to the roof of city hall and they’ll build the scaffolding up and so it’ll actually minimize the inconvenience to the public,” said McCarthy.

Restoration work will be going on March 31 through July and will be celebrated with a rededication ceremony.