The Paper photo by Thomas Crane
Monday, June 18, 2018 9:08 PM
Dozens of people gathered on the south side of the Montgomery County Courthouse Sunday afternoon as the Kirtley Clocktower was officially dedicated and its bells chimed for the first time. Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton and Montgomery County Commissioner Phil Bane spoke to the crowd. The clocktower played the National Anthem and the bells and chimes were played. The restoration of the clocktower to the Montgomery County Courthouse was the brainstorm of the late Dr. James Marion Kirtley. He asked Sandra and Luther Lofland to help him start to work on this project in the Spring of 1996. The three of them formed a committee through the Montgomery County Historical Society. Committee members and volunteers from the community were selected. There were hundreds of volunteers and each played a significant role. Dr. Kirtley passed away in 2000 but this group of dedicated volunteers remained steadfast with the goals to carry on his dream. Copies of Dr. Kirtley’s book were distributed as well.