This development is not a boon for Historical Preservationists alone. Stabilization and repair of the Campanile would be an incredible victory for our ailing city and boost in morale. Returning it to a good state of repair would go a long way to restoring the city’s image, as the clock tower is one of the city’s most magnificent symbols. The report also noted efforts by the city to maintain proper time on all four faces and grace the streets of downtown with the sound of the tower’s bells. What greater gift could we offer our children than to give to them that music and glory we’ve denied ourselves for 20 years? These are the same bells that tolled when peace was announced in both World Wars. Their chimes mean more than the top of the hour and we have been denied them by civic indifference.

Sadly, there are some who will not feel the same way. The money for this restoration is likely coming from the Control Board’s capital maintenance plan, funded through the sale of municipal bonds. While some politicians may have questioned the use of actual cash for this project, any criticism when the FCB announced plans last year for moneys intended for Municipal Group reconstruction was muted. Now that the city has actually started work (well in fairness begun a study, hopefully followed quickly by work), there may yet be a chorus of dissenters.