Rotary celebrating 100 years with gift to city

TIFFIN — To mark the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Tiffin, the community-based organization will be giving the city a gift that's meant to last for generations: a towering, music-playing centennial clock that will soon stand watch over South Washington Street. The 18-foot-tall structure, set to be installed next Thursday at City Lot 7, will feature a fully-lit face with a four-sided design, and a library of more than 400 songs programmed to play during holidays and special events. "We wanted to give the community something meaningful," said Keith Hodkinson, a longtime Rotary member and past president. The clock was custom-built by The Verdin Company of Cincinnati and arrived in Tiffin this spring in two massive crates. Hodkinson said the project was made possible through a number of collaborations with local businesses. Burns Electric has been housing the pieces, and Clouse Construction and Clouse Electric have been assisting with installation. "Clouse Construction already has installed the base of the clock, which is to have four brass plates recognizing donors around it," said Hodkinson. Several former Rotary members who contributed to the project posthumously through estate gifts will be recognized. Originally, club members hoped to place the clock on the courthouse lawn, but concerns about power access led them to City Lot #7 where an existing power panel was located. Another suggestion had been to put it in City Lot #5, where a historic clock had previously stood, before settling on its current location. "One of our members found an old photo on the wall at Fort Ball that shows it. It felt like fate," said Hodkinson. The clock is designed with both tradition and technology in mind, and is capable of playing music on holidays like Christmas and St. Patrick's Day — but not too late into the evening. "We'll have it programmed to shut off around 9 p.m., so it won't disturb downtown residents," Hodkinson said. "This is a tribute to a lot of people, past and present," Hodkinson said. "It shows how much the community matters to us." The clock is just one part of Rotary's broader centennial celebration, which runs through April 2026. Members are also exploring the idea of planting a time capsule nearby and potentially partnering with local schools to create it. Founded in 1926, the Tiffin Rotary Club has supported a wide variety of community projects over the years, from hospital and library donations to scholarships and support for international aid like polio eradication. For decades, the club's annual televised auction raised tens of thousands of dollars for local causes. Hodkinson, who joined in 1983, remembers when the auction aired on late-night TV and involved nearly every club member. "We averaged about $30,000 a year, and over 35 years, we raised about $750,000," he said. "All of that went right back into the community — or to places in need around the world." While Rotary membership has fluctuated in recent years, especially during the pandemic, Hodkinson believes there's still a deep desire among residents to give back. "People might not want to join a club anymore," he said. "But they still want to help. And that's good enough for us — we need those people, too." Those interested in learning more about the club or its centennial plans can find the Rotary Club of Tiffin on Facebook or reach out to any current member.