Library’s Tiffany Grandfather Clock Restored
By Vivian Conan
Jun. 1, 2016: The stately Tiffany grandfather clock that graces the staircase landing of the Bronxville Public Library chimed the hour faithfully from 1942 until 1999, when it was put into storage while the library was being renovated.
Upon its return two years later, it was still beautiful but no longer kept time. Now, after years of silence, not only is it chiming again, its elegant case details have also been restored to their original splendor, thanks to a generous gift from the Friends of the Bronxville Public Library.
The clock was a gift of Helen Genung Campbell in memory of her parents, Merwin E. and Louise R. Genung, when the Pondfield Road building opened in 1942. It is a replica of a clock made in 1790 by Simon Willard, a celebrated Massachusetts clockmaker. (The original resides in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.)
The exterior—solid mahogany hand-rubbed to a satin finish, with inlaid marquetry—was restored by Florentine Antique Restoration in Connecticut. The interior "works," including pendulum and pivots, were dismantled and attended to by Horologist of London in Ridgefield, CT. The brass now gleams and the marquetry details are visible for the first time in decades. This elegant gentleman, who has watched over the comings and goings of Bronxville Library patrons for nearly seventy-five years, is ready to preside over generations to come.
Children climbing the stairs to the children's room noticed the clock's absence right away and are glad to have it back, as are the staff and patrons. The clock's eighteenth-century grandeur seems not at all out of place in a Georgian building that provides state-of-the-art Internet connectivity. Its melodious chimes, different patterns for the hour, half hour, and quarter hour, remind us of a gentler time and the history of our special library.
Pictured here: The Tiffany grandfather clock in the staircase landing of the Bronxville Public Library.
Photo by A. Warner
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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