Ray County Commissioners approved the purchase of four clocks for the courthouse during a recent meeting.

The commissioners were notified during a June meeting that all four courthouse clocks were broken and needed to be removed. Bids for new clocks and installations were requested.

A bid from Verdin Bells and Clocks’ was accepted to build and install the clocks, which will be custom made at a cost of $26,285. Permanent lighting will be added for an additional $5,795.

Although an afterthought, the current clocks were installed during the construction of the courthouse in 1914.

In October, 1914, the Richmond Conservator began lobbying for a clock for the court house, an item that had been omitted from the plans. The county court finally came up with the necessary $800 for installation of a clock dial in each facade, run by electricity, according to the National Register of Historic Places Courthouse nomination form from 1979.

In a separate matter, installation of new windows for the courthou…