PLAISTOW — Town Hall may have the right time once again.
Former resident Donald Sargent told the selectmen last week that he wants to donate half the cost, about $25,000, to fix the clock tower on Town Hall.
"I grew up there and spent the first 20 years of my life there," said Sargent, a retired banker who now lives in Portsmouth.
This is the second time Sargent has donated money to fix up Town Hall, which was built in 1895. A few years ago, he donated more than $60,000 to fix up the third floor. In the spring, the town dedicated a plaque in the room to him for his generosity.
"Now I'll go up there and ring the bell," Sargent said.
He said he's just happy that he's been successful.
"I want to give something back to the community," Sargent said.
He still comes back to visit his friends and family a couple of times a month. His brother, Bruce, is the town moderator.
Town Manager Sean Fitzgerald said the clock hasn't told the correct time for about 10 years.
Fixing it was a project the town was considering, but it likely would have not been completed for a few years until the economy improved. The town unsuccessfully applied for grants from the state to repair the tower in the past.
Fitzgerald said fixing the 100-year-old tower will help restore some pride to residents in town.
"Plaistow has a unique clock tower," he said. "It's widely recognized."
Most of the clock is in good shape, but there is an arm that doesn't work and parts of the mechanism need to be replaced, Fitzgerald said.
"It's hard to show up every day and have it show the wrong time," he said.
Sargent hopes other residents will follow his lead and make a donation to help fix up the tower by spring.
Fitzgerald said the town will try to hold a few community events to raise the remainder of the money.
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