DARLINGTON — Perhaps we are unable to go back in time, but with a recent clock donation, the local community can appreciate moving forward with fond memories. Recently, an old-fashioned street-style clock has been gifted to the City of Darlington, by the James “Jim” and Mary Meylor family.
“The clock was purchased by my dad, Jim Meylor, two-and-a-half years ago,” shares Pat Meylor. “He custom ordered it for Darlington in memory of my mother, Mary and her parents, Ike and June Steil. He and Mom missed seeing the old clock, and that’s why Dad bought it. When he passed away last year, we decided to add his name to the clock’s memorial.”
The clock is a 2-dial Howard old-fashion street-style clock. It illuminates at night and keeps time facing north and south on Main Street in Darlington. It has been recently installed in Veterans Park next to the sidewalk that approaches the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society museum, the historic Carnegie Library. The clock enhances the location, and dates well with most of the buildings in the area.
“After the clock arrived, years ago, Dad said that I would be the one to install it, which I agreed,” Meylor said. “It sat in the shed for a couple of years while I worked with the DOT to find proper placement on Main Street. My sons helped with the prep work. Schueller Concrete, Don Tuescher of Tuescher Electric, and Scott Glendenning did the work to prepare for the clock’s installation.”
Like many, Jim and Mary Meylor remembered the original clock that once enhanced the 300-block of Main Street in Darlington. It stood outside of the former C. J. Franz Jewelers and Optometrist building, now known as Wild Roots Salon. It was commonplace to see clocks outside of businesses, although most seem to have faded away in history. There are some people in the area who are old enough to recall a time when the old clock was used as target practice by some high schoolers. It was restored and remained in its location for a number of years.
“Originally we thought the clock would look nice in the median across from the Pharmacy on Main Street, but the DOT said ‘no’ to that,” Meylor shares. “Then, we thought it would be appropriate in the median near the monument by Veterans Park. They said ‘no’ to that also. It was decided that it could be nearest the monument, and placed next to the sidewalk, which seemed most fitting where The clock stands in memory of two generations of a faith-filled family whose deep roots and strong values helped strengthen the local community.
Joseph “Ike” Steil was born and raised in Darlington. He served his country during WWII, which earned him a bronze medal. He married the former June Rasmussen in 1943. The couple had two daughters, Mary and Linda. Steil was a funeral director alongside his father, George; before eventually taking over the accredited family business. When he retired in 1983, he was credited for having served the community for more than 50 years.
The former Mary Steil, who was the daughter of Ike and June Steil, graduated from Darlington High School in 1965. Her future husband, Jim Meylor, was a 1962 graduate of Darlington. They were married in 1967, and raised their seven children, Natalie, Anita, Patrick, Bart, Kyle, Joel, and Amanda, on the family farm where Jim was raised by his parents, William and Prudence Meylor.
“We were there when the clock was installed and placed on Main Street,” says Meylor. “It was a family effort, and a special moment for all of us.”
The clock was ordered by Jim Meylor, and created by the Electric Time Company, Inc of Medfield, Massachusetts. The company strives to bring back the historic timepieces which once decorated Main Streets all throughout the United States. They have been in business since the early 1900s, and continue to create bracket clocks, street clocks, tower clocks, and custom architectural clocks. They also do restoration and have been accredited for their work restoring the famous 1900s clock located at 200 Fifth Avenue in New York City.
The vintage clock donation measures more than hours and minutes, it also defines the transition of time from past to present and looks toward the future. The community has fond memories of the Meylor and Steil families and appreciate the donation of the clock in their memory. Both couples raised their families with faith in God and strong work ethics which helped build the communities in which they lived and worked. Let’s allow every second of each day to move us forward with beautiful memories that continue to last a lifetime. Time truly is the greatest gift.
