The first city clock was hung on the corner of Main and Elm Street on the Staunton National Bank building on February 3rd, 1921. The Bank's main purpose for the clock was to show accurate time so the townspeople did not have to rely on the mine whistles and the interurban (ITS Railroad).

The clock itself had amazing and distinctive features for its time. Designed by Mr. McClintock, the inner clockworks and the outside clock were built phenomenally and had an unusual and artistic appearance. It also had a full set of Westminster chimes that chimed on the hour and quarter hours. The makers of the clock hoped it would have a message for young students on their way to school and the businessmen who were hustling through the streets.

But as time went by (see what I did there?), the clock would often lose its accurate time, and show different times on its faces. On June 30, 1999, the old clock was replaced by a digital clock with accurate time and temperature. The townspeople were upset about the replacement. The clock to them was a sentimental and beautiful piece of history. A newspaper author wrote, But like a mother viewing her son's dirty face, we thought it was beautiful!

So in January of 2001, a group of concerned citizens started a committee to restore the clock. They moved the clock to a better storage location, since it was buried in snow and dirt, and started fundraising. The committee raised $52,000 to repair and display the clock. Working through many challenges, the crew successfully restored the clock to an even better state than before.