When I was a school boy in Alderson I averaged
4 to 8 times times a day checking the Hanger building clock. To going
to school
in the morning and returning home at lunch time, I did it the same
at the end of school activities for the day. Quite often I would go
to town once more, before bed-time, remember this was before TV and
I was too old to listen to the radio and "Don Winlow of the Navy).
I was a teenager, my speed was variable depending
on what was in store. If I was going to the Harry Rowe house to see
Sue, I would go with a hustle.
I always used the Hanger clock to determine my
need for more speed, (maybe another gear). I remember the evening I
had time to spare and Mr. Hanger was hunched over in his usual
position, (with a Jewelers Loupe in one eye). Everything looked the
same, same old clock, same old building needing paint.
After exchanging "Howdys", I asked Mr. Hanger how
he set the clock over the front entrance to the exact correct time.
I knew it was correct because the whistle at the Institution was
exactly the same time, always! Mr. Hanger told me the secret! He set
the clock with the prison whistle and that was a Official U.S.
Department of Justice clock. That was good enough for me".
Fifteen or so years later I was a employee at
the Institution. The Hanger Clock was still on the building as I
came to work. I visited my friend Dick Simms at the Power House and
the long forgotten question came up again. I asked Dick if he would
show me the Official Clock that ran everything, Dick rolled-up his
sleeve and said, "here she is. It's a Timex, Neda gave it to me for
my birth-day! I check it every day with "Hangers Clock"!
Looks to me like another clock is needed for
memories sake and any stray kids.
