By Janice Gabelmann

Here I am again (the clock). I’m back with a shorter message this month. It is about someone who knew me better than anyone that I can remember. It was sad for me when I heard that Alan Redford had died suddenly on January 9, 2007. The whole town was in shock. It was very upsetting news about the friend who climbed the narrow stairs from the choir loft, to reach the area that makes me what I am to the church and the town.

Alan Redford and his puppy, Jack.

I depended on Alan to keep me going. I needed his care and a great caregiver he was for many, many years. I wish I knew how long he kept the chimes sounding at the right time and the hands turning. At the time of this writing, the hands had stopped and Alan had planned to fix the problem on the Sunday after his death.

Alan never drove by the church without looking up at me to see if I was all right. He changed the time spring and fall, in his own quiet way. I could depend on his coming to see me at that time of year. He came after power outages to adjust the time, and to check to see if I survived a storm such as ice, snow or even the thundershowers that come through the town.

Sometimes Alan would bring his son, John, with him. This started at an early age for John and continued whenever Alan needed his help. Over the years, John learned a lot and had the same love for the clock on the steeple at the church where he grew up. I wish John lived nearer to us here in Norfolk, and could come to take care of me, as his father did for so many years.

There are many stories about the work Alan did here at the church. His love of clocks was a special interest to him, as well as many other hobbies. He loved to fix all the clocks, model trains, pump organs, and mechanical musical players. He worked at the Berkshire Hobby Supply Shop in Canaan, and also had a great interest in the real trains of days gone by. He could tell you about their route and where the old tracks were that ran through Norfolk and into Hartford.

I must tell you that this church enjoyed Alan’s musical band organ. Each fall, he brought it to the Church Fair.  He would load the large machine into the back of his truck and drive to the area near the millstone to set it up. It played for the enjoyment of many, including me here on the steeple. What a treat! It filled the air with music all around. It became a bigger task to load and unload as the years went by. John helped until he moved away from Norfolk. Alan’s wife, Irene, has been seen helping when needed. Thanks to them also. Alan also did a major restoration of the band organ at Bushnell Park in Hartford. It took many years to complete this project and he continued to maintain it for the last 20 years or more.

Alan was very active in the town by serving with the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department, as a director of the Historical Society, and as a board member on the Norfolk Historical District Commission. He had also served on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Alan was a member of the Church of Christ, serving as a trustee for many years.

As some of you know, he leaves his wife of 10 years, Irene, three children, Jennifer Sherrill of Farmington, Martha Beach of West Suffield and a son, John, of Plainville. Alan enjoyed his children and their families, and they have many memories to tell of him as well.

I have heard you asking the question, “Who will take care of the clock?” I can report that there are a couple of things in the works. I will miss Alan, as many of you will. He was a truly dedicated caregiver.

Reprinted with permission from the Norfolk Chimes. Photo courtesy of Irene Redford.