1975
May 8, 1975: The clock tower is appraised by an architect to be valued at $51,000.
August 20, 1975: The city hall property is sold to John F. Bergstrom for $10,000. A reasonable price considering the costs of preparing the area for his commercial plans. The demolition estimate is placed at $53,000. He assures residents that he will cooperate with the “Save the Clocktower Committee” by allowing six months to raise $51,000 (appraised May 8, 1975) to renovate the clocktower. Bergstrom’s alternate plan is to build a mini shopping center on the site.
November 25, 1975: At this point, the “Save the Clocktower Committee” has raised about twenty percent of the required $51,000 to save the clocktower.
November 28, 1975: Mike’s Wrecking Company, Oshkosh, engages in razing city hall, preserving the clocktower. “Save the Clocktower Committee” sells bricks from the demolished building as part of the fundraising effort.
August 20, 1975: The city hall property is sold to John F. Bergstrom for $10,000. A reasonable price considering the costs of preparing the area for his commercial plans. The demolition estimate is placed at $53,000. He assures residents that he will cooperate with the “Save the Clocktower Committee” by allowing six months to raise $51,000 (appraised May 8, 1975) to renovate the clocktower. Bergstrom’s alternate plan is to build a mini shopping center on the site.
November 25, 1975: At this point, the “Save the Clocktower Committee” has raised about twenty percent of the required $51,000 to save the clocktower.
November 28, 1975: Mike’s Wrecking Company, Oshkosh, engages in razing city hall, preserving the clocktower. “Save the Clocktower Committee” sells bricks from the demolished building as part of the fundraising effort.
1976
March 4, 1976: RACON (Neenah's Redevelopment authority) donates $8,248 to the clock tower cause.
March 9, 1976: After several deadline extensions and price reductions, the committee has raised $30,000 out of the new price of $41,000.
April 16, 1976: Renovations on the clock tower begins, but the fundraising efforts continue.
1976: The clock tower is returned to the city; Bergstrom retains the old city hall building property.
September 19, 1976: Clock Tower was dedicated to Neenah's future.
March 9, 1976: After several deadline extensions and price reductions, the committee has raised $30,000 out of the new price of $41,000.
April 16, 1976: Renovations on the clock tower begins, but the fundraising efforts continue.
1976: The clock tower is returned to the city; Bergstrom retains the old city hall building property.
September 19, 1976: Clock Tower was dedicated to Neenah's future.
Sources:
Information: This information was taken from The Tower Book. Created by Helen Cogger, the "Save the Clocktower Committee" secretary, and presented to the Neenah Public Library in April 1980, this scrapbook contains pictures and newspaper clippings relevant to the clock tower.
Information: This information was taken from The Tower Book. Created by Helen Cogger, the "Save the Clocktower Committee" secretary, and presented to the Neenah Public Library in April 1980, this scrapbook contains pictures and newspaper clippings relevant to the clock tower.