Biddeford Director of Facilities Phil Radding shows off some of the damage of the City Hall clock tower. The city is one of 20 nationwide that could win one of 10 $150,000 grants to help repair the clock tower. LIZ GOTTHELF/Journal Tribune

BIDDEFORD – Mayor Alan Casavant said when he was creating a presentation for his campaign a few years ago a local photographer gave him a well-composed picture of Biddeford City Hall with a full moon.

He said he couldn’t use the photo because of the ugly and embarrassing condition of the clock tower that sits atop the building.

But that could change. The city is one of a small group of communities nationwide in a race for a $150,000 grant.

City Hall, located at 205 Main St., was built by well-known architect John Calvin Stevens, and completed in 1895. Stevens was a proponent of the “City Beautiful” movement to enhance the aesthetics of downtowns, Casavant said, and added that City Hall was built taller than other downtown buildings so it would stand out and highlight city government and be a source of pride.

“Where is that pride today? The bell in the tower no longer rings, the clocks on each face no longer tick, the gold-leaf copper dome is blistered from 40 years of sun and neglect, and the facade of the tower is a quilt of mismatched whites and rot,” said Casavant.

The condition of the clock tower does not correspond to the “Biddossance,” or the recent revitalization of Biddeford , which has introduced new restaurants, shops, enthusiasm and creative energy to the downtown, he said.

Delilah Poupore, director of the downtown revitilizaton organization Heart of Biddeford, announced at a press conference at City Hall on Monday a way for residents to help the city get funding to restore the clock tower.

The City Hall clock tower is one of 20 Main Street historic sites nationwide chosen by Partners for Preservation, a project of American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said Poupore, contending for a $150,000 grant.  Ten of the 20 projects will receive $150,000.

These 10 grant winners will be selected by popular vote through the website https://savingplaces.org. Individuals can cast up to five votes a day through Oct. 26.

Poupore said an open house will be held on Oct. 20 featuring tours of the clock tower and other events showcasing downtown highlights.

The restoration of the clock tower is not a new topic. Voters rejected bonds to restore the tower in 2007, 2012 and 2015. In 2014, the clock tower made Maine Preservation’s annual list of “Most Endangered Historic Properties.”

Biddeford Director of Facilities Phil Radding has advocated for the restoration of the clock tower since he took the position 12 years ago.

The clock, which was electrified in the 1970s, stopped working about five years ago, Radding said. There was some temporary stabilization work done in 2009 to prevent leakage and replace rotting, he said, but that was intended to only be a five-year fix.

Radding is among those who would like to see the clock restored to its original state. The clock, as it was first built, operated  like “a giant grandfather clock” with weights, and had to be wound up every seven days, Radding said.

Should the city receive the $150,000 grant, it will only pay for a small portion of the restoration project.

Radding said he believes the project would cost nearly $3 million and would include the repair of the clock, redoing the copper on the dome, repairing windows and weatherization.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 780-9015 or [email protected].