The Jefferson County Courthouse is a striking three-story brick building encompassing a full city block in Boulder. The architecture firm of John C. Paulsen and Noah J. McConnell drafted the blueprints after the bond issue was carried out on April 25, 1888. A contemporary description of the courthouse reads, “ a building after the Greek style of architecture of handsome design. The structure will have, in addition to a roomy basement, two stories and an attic surmounted by a tower in which will be placed a clock.” (The Age, 1888).
The original architectural drawings contained clocks on the south, east and west sides of the tower. However, in 1984 a “Historic Structure Report” about the Jefferson County Courthouse noted clocks were never installed in the circles of the tower. The report’s authors recommended installing “dummy” clocks, stain glass, or oculus windows similar to those found throughout the building. Clocks indeed have been installed in the clock tower. However, no one seems to know when or if they ever worked. At some point between the Historic Structure Report in 1984 and modern times the clocks were installed, and presumably told time until stopping at an unknown date.
However, with the help of an ARPA grant and research by the Jefferson County Facilities Department, the necessary and intricate spindles, composite gears, and clock controllers have been identified and will soon be ordered. The total cost of new parts will amount to between $5,000 and $7,000.
