A reception at the New Hampshire Federal Credit Union, 70 Airport Road, on Aug. 25 will mark the gift of a Walter H. Durfee grandfather clock to the Concord Historical Society. The clock has an interesting past among two Concord families with long-standing ties to the community and the history of Concord.
The tall clock, a gift to the society from the Ralph and Bessie Flanders family of Concord, was crafted in the early 1900s by Providence, R.I. clockmaker, Walter H. Durfee.
According to a recent appraisal, the clock's case is made from quartersawn oak with brass hardware. It has a beveled glass door for the waist section, flat glass conforming to the dial case, two ball and spire finials astride the central brass eagle and two floral rosettes attached to the swan's neck split arch on each side of the brass eagle. The finish on the case appears to be original. The clock is currently operating and is on display at the credit union.
The history of the clock, as retold by the Flanders family, places its original ownership with a Concord minister who willed it to his housekeeper. After that it was acquired by Robert Jewell in the 1940s. Robert is believed to have been the bookkeeper for the housekeeper. Because of the clock's size, Robert needed to store it away until it could be given to his daughter, Roberta. At that time, Ralph and Bessie Flanders began caring for the clock. When Roberta married Edward Young, her home was not large enough to accommodate the clock, so it remained with Ralph and Bessie. Upon the Flanderses' retirement to the New Hampshire Odd Fellows Home, Robert had the clock appraised and sold it to the late Robert Flanders, son of Ralph and Bessie, and his wife, Roddy.
The Concord Historical Society currently has no space for the display of its collection. James W. Milliken, chairman of the society's board of trustees, says, “We are very fortunate to be able to display this generous and significant gift at the New Hampshire Federal Credit Union.” Robert Flanders served as the credit union's president and CEO from 1988 until his death in 1994.
The credit union is proud to display the clock in its lobby. The reception marking the donation of the clock is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Aug. 25, and is by invitation only. For more information, call Pamela Roy at 224-7731, ext. 123, or Richard Osborne at 801-1010.
