The Hood County courthouse clock has something in common with Big Ben. Both clock towers shelter Seth Thomas, hand-wound clocks, the only two still operating in the world.

High in the courthouse tower, a massive apparatus of gears, pendulum, drive shaft and weights reminds our generation of the days before digital clocks and electricity. The beautiful Courthouse Clock came to Hood County in the last decade of the nineteenth century. It faithfully ticks the years, the hours and the moments from generation to generation.

The Hood County courthouse clock has something in common with Big Ben. Both clock towers shelter Seth Thomas, hand-wound clocks, the only two still operating in the world.

With an accuracy of up to five minutes, the Hood County clock utilizes its original bronze gears (a rare feature). Residing up in the tower of the three story courthouse, the clock chimes on the hour every day and must be hand wound once a week. Purchased back in 1891 and paid for in $700 installments, the clock received repairs before, in 1970 when it received attention from a J. Juniker. Likely this is John Juniker of Juniker Jewelry, a family business that started as a watch repair company. Then the Granbury timepiece was restored at the Museum of Clocks & Watches in Lockhart by a team under Gene Galbraith, the museum’s central figure. Recently the clock underwent restoration at the Southwest Museum of Clocks & Watches.

Hood County’s Courthouse’s 1891 Second Empire-style stands as the cornerstone for the historic Granbury Town square. It’s the fifth Hood County court-house and built of native limestone. W.C. Dodson of Waco designed the present courthouse and the total price for construction was $40,000. The frame, clad sheet metal courthouse clock tower houses the Seth Thomas town clock.

A small one-man log cabin housed the first Hood County court. In 1875 a rock courthouse took its place however an arson suspected fire burned it to the ground, destroying all of the county’s land records and deeds.

As the restoration of the courthouse comes to a close, plan a trip to view the majestic building and ask about the clock tower tour. As the tower clock returns to its duty of informing locals and visitors of the time, think about Big Ben and the Granbury clock in time to chime.

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