WORK UNDERWAY TO RESTORE LINCOLN COUNTY COURTHOUSE CLOCK
Work is underway to restore the clock atop the Lincoln County Courthouse in Merrill, bringing new life to a piece of the city’s history that has been frozen at 11:08 for about a year.
Crews recently began removing the clock’s mechanical components so they can be transported to Ohio for repair. The work is being handled by clock specialist Phil Wright of South Charleston, Ohio, with assistance from Stacy Wagler of Rhinelander. The clock mechanism contains numerous original components dating back to the courthouse’s construction in 1903. The pieces will be carefully disassembled, repaired as needed and eventually returned to Merrill for reassembly.
Lincoln County Superintendent of Facilities and Grounds Patrick Gierl says the courthouse clock tower is an important community landmark. The Bierman Foundation has contributed $100,000 toward the restoration project.
County officials expect the clock to be back in operation by May 2027. The goal is not simply to get the clock running again, but to preserve the historic mechanism for future generations, with hopes that the restored clock will continue operating for another 100 years.
The Lincoln County Courthouse, located on East Main Street in Merrill, was constructed in 1903 and remains one of the city’s most recognizable historic buildings.
