Hamilton Dial under Restoration
Photos courtesy of Hawkins & HawkinsThe Hamilton dial is in the restorative care of Jarrett and Celene Hawkins (Hawkins & Hawkins Custom, LLC in Cincinnati Ohio https://www.studio-hawkins.com/) in preparation for the dial's dedication on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
The face of the Hamilton Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) sundial has been cleaned and bead-blasted showing the dial as it was cast 84 years ago. In the process, Hawkins & Hawkins discovered a plate attached to the edge of the bottom half of the dial with the name "Newman Bros. Inc Cincinnati Ohio" The foundry most likely cast other GAR dials of similar design. Newman Brothers, Inc. began operation in 1882, providing cast iron and bronze hardware and continued into the 1950's creating "architectural and ornamental metal work in aluminum, bronze, nickel, silver and stainless steel" before closing their doors.
The restoraion is intended to leave the dial and four-post dial pedestal with minimum change to the original surfaces. What has worked well on other bronze dials is a light brown patina, leaving the top of the hour lines, marks, and lettering in a bright bronze finish.
A total of $19,200 for the dial's restoration was raised through donations and selling 140 engraved bricks that will be along a pathway leading to the dial. The path is being designed by Adam Cornette, Director of the Hamilton Parks Conservancy and his team. The engraved polished granite hexagon for the dial base is in Cincinnati, waiting to be delivered. The 140 engraved bricks are in safekeeping at a Hamilton storage facility. Everything has been arranged for the dedication on May 31, 2025, at 1:00pm at Monument Park in Hamilton. Mark Montgomery of the North American Sundial Society is slated to be one of the eight guest speakers. Following the dedication, a reception follows in the beautiful Soldiers, Sailors, and Pioneers Monument, dedicated on July 4, 1906.
- Details
- Hits: 2338
Hamilton Dial Dedicated
Sundial dedication May 31, 2025. At left is Kathleen Stuckey Fox, with the City Proclamation presented by Mayor Pat Moeller and City Council on-lookers Carla Fiehrer and Susan Vaughn offering congratulations.On May 31, 2025 at 1pm, the Hamilton, Ohio, sundial (NASS Sundial Registry #1109) was re-dedicated in Monument Park. Originally dedicated in 1941 to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) near the shores of the Great Miami River by the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the sundial faced 84 years of weathering, vandalism, and neglect, leaving it in a sad state.
Hamilton native and historian, Kathleen Stuckey Fox, stepped in to restore the dial and surrounding area of Monument Park, leading an engraved brick campaign to raise 10,000 dollars.The effort was supported by the citizens of Hamilton, Butler County Histrorical Society, the Hamilton Garden Club and the NASS who contributed 1500 dollars, which as Kathleen Stuckey Fox said, "to save one of their childrren."
Philanthropists James K. Fitton and the W.E. Smith Family Charitable Trust provided substantial support. At the end, 19,200 dollars were raised and 140 engraved bricks to surround the dial were purchased and donated. The sundial restoration and crafting of a new sundial gnomon was done under the care and expertise of Hawkins and Hawkings, LLC of Cincinnati (https://www.studio-hawkins.com/). They gave the bronze base and dial a warm brown patina with bight bronze pedestal legs. The dial stans proudly on an octagonal grey granite base engraved "May 31, 2025."
During the Sundial Dedication at Monument Park, Hamilton Mayor, Pat Moeller and City Coucil presented a Proclamation thanking Kathleen Stuckey Fox, urging “all citizens to recognize and show appreciation to Kathleen and the work she has accomplished to preserve the City of Hamilton’s history.” Mark Montgomery, representing the NASS, concluded his remarks with, “Many of the Grand Army of the Republic sundials across the country were established with great fanfare. No less today for the GAR sundial here in Hamilton. Enjoy this moment in time and may the sundial last another 100 years.”
- Details
- Hits: 1539
1695 Malta Sundial Restored
In January of this year we reported that the Malta 1695 vertical sundial on the wall of the Jesuits' Church, next to the Old University entrance on St. Paul Street in Valleta was in severe disrepair. Alexei Pace reports that "restoration of the 1695 sundial in Valletta, has now been completed. All the vegetation and fungal growth/mold has beeen removed and the stonework re-pointed."
- Details
- Hits: 10147
Olympian Dial to be Repaired
Jim Camden of The Spokesman-Review on 17 July 2017 reported that in Olympia, Washington, "Time has come for some restoration work on the Capitol sundial"
The Olympian dial has eight bas-relief panels depicting events in Washington State's history including the discoveries of Captain George Vancouver in 1792, the Medicine Creek Treaty between the US and Puget Sound Native Americans in 1854 and the first railroad to Puget Sound, built in 1883. This beautiful hammered brass dial by John Elliot was installed on 23 January 1959 (http://www.des.wa.gov/services/facilities-leasing/capitol-campus/memorials-and-artwork/territorial-sundial)
But the dial has had some hard times. In the mid 1990's the sundial's bronze gnomon was damaged by vandals, and now the sundial is headed for refurbishment with a new stronger gnomon and repairs to the panels where the dial face is bent and cupping. And to improve the sundial's time telling accuracy, the sundial's base and anchoring system will be improved to ensure thedial face is flat and fully horizontal.
The project is included in the operating budget of the Public and Historic Facilities funds for 2017-19, which is designated for care of campus memorials and artwork. The sundial restoration work is expected to cost less than $10,000 and will be complete in late fall of 2017.
Read more at: http://www.des.wa.gov/about/news-media-center/capitol-campus-sundial-be-removed-repairs-week-july-17
- Details
- Hits: 11413
Ottawa "Lincoln" Dial Goes Missing
Nearly 100 years ago on Dec. 3, 1918 the state of Illinois through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs Clarence Griggs provided a horizontal sundial to the Ottawa Boat Club "so that future generations may know that on this spot once stood Abraham Lincoln performing his duty as a soldier and patriot". His journey north occuring in 1832 when he visited Ottawa as a volunteer soldier in the Black Hawk War.
Now the Ottawa Historic Preservation Commission would like to refurbish the memorial in time for next year’s Illinois bicentennial. In the photo from www.mytimes.com taken several years ago, the dial had been generally neglected and the gnomon gone missing. Now the entire dial is missing. The historical commission is hoping the brass dial plate will be returned, preferable to City Planner Tami Huftel at the Ottawa City Hall. It will be accepted with no questions asked. Huftel can be called at 815-433-0161, ext. 240.
- Details
- Hits: 10566
Territorial Sundial Restored
John W. Elliot, a Seattle master craftsman designed and executed the Territorial Sundial, a 6-foot dial hand-hammered in brass with a bronze rod gnomon in 1959. (NASS SUndial Registtry #319). But the dial had tarnished with age and weather and the gnomon bent and broken.
As of January 4, 2018, the Territorial Sundial returns to the Washington State Capitol Campus. For the last six months the 59 year old dial went through considerable rennovation. A new gnomon has been crafted as a replica of the original, but with improved attachments. According to "From Our Corner", the Washinfgton Secretary of State Blog, "Repairs have also been made to the face of the sundial, as well as work on the sundial’s base and anchoring system to ensure its face is flat and horizontal...The sundial will now be sturdier than ever with improved durability while maintaining its original historic appearance. [The] Department of Enterprise Services consulted with the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the State Arts Commission in deciding to replicate the artwork."
Within the 6-foot dial face "There are eight panels that depict important milestones in our territorial history. The quote by Marcus Aurelius on its display reads, “Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current.” This beautiful dial, now restored as an accurate device more measuring solar time, will be dedicated at noon on Tuesday, January 30th, 2018.
Read more at: https://blogs.sos.wa.gov/FromOurCorner/index.php/2018/01/territorial-sundial-returns-to-capitol-campus/
- Details
- Hits: 25759
- Hamilton Dial Restoration
- Louis B. Toomer and Sundial Remembered
- Restored Cranmer Dial Dedicated
- Portland Vets to Restore High School Sundial
- $1.5 Million to Save Cranmer Park & Sundial
- Lord Nelson's Memorial Dial Dumped
- Draw the Sundial of Your Dreams
- Washington Gnomon Contest
- Malta Sundial May Disappear
- Hilltop Park Renovation
- Portland Librarian Searches for Rare Sundial
- Cranford Dial Needed Help - Now it is Gone
- Cranmer Sundial Damaged and Restored
- Oatlands Sundial on Endangered List
- Sundial Moved with Hidden Treasure
- World's Largest Sundial Cracks
- Moore Sundial Stolen and Now Recovered
- Chatham Square Dial Vandalized - Again
- Sun City Dial Re-Dedicated
- Lost and Found