Read time: 5 min.

I pass through Redkey every now and then. For years, it was my quickest way past the landmark Oak Grove Schoolhouse. Recently, though, I learned the town has been working to restore a 117-year-old clock downtown! Once I heard the story behind it, I realized the place was far more interesting than a quick drive around its outskirts might suggest.

About 1,100 people live in Redkey today. Despite what the name might suggest, the town wasn’t named for a crimson means of access. Instead, it honors James Redkey, who platted an addition to the community when the railroad arrived in 1867¹. Originally known as the Wade Settlement, the village was first platted as Mt. Vernon, then incorporated in 1883².

More recently, the town’s best known for the old Shambarger’s restaurant -famous for its seven-course meals but closed by the early eighties³– and the Key Palace Theater, an ex-movie theater-turned-blues venue⁴. 

The old Key Palace is visible to travelers headed down State Road 1, but much of Redkey’s downtown sits just west on High Street. The old City Building sits at the far side of downtown proper, and that’s where the clock is. 

Redkey’s old City Building is a great local example of the Romanesque Revival mode of architecture. It’s a two-story brick building trimmed in Bedford limestone with a four-story corner tower that rises 45 feet⁵.

The old City Building is the tallest in Redkey! Originally, the tower ended at its arched and louvered belfry⁶. In 1909, though, the tower was extended to make room for a Seth Thomas No. 15 clock from Chicago⁷. 

Today, using public funds to add a clock to an extant structure would probably be cause for disdain from the loudmouth podcast contingency. Fortunately, the $1,100 expense was paid for by a local businessman⁸. Unfortunately, though, the clock hasn’t worked for twenty years. Its last refurbishment came fifty years ago⁹. 

That said, a group of Redkey residents decided to refurbish the old clock in time for the United States’ 250th anniversary. The clockworks were lowered from the street and moved to the fire department. There, volunteers disassembled the clock piece by piece, then cleaned and painted it. The apparatus was reassembled after all that work- at no cost to taxpayers¹⁰. 

A committee hopes to have the clock reinstalled and operational by July 4, 2026 and intends to raise $6 to 8,000 to rent a boom lift to refurbish the old City Building’s five-foot clock faces by then! I haven’t found a Gofundme to contribute to, but the group’s putting on local events like a Chili Supper that went live last week¹¹.  Here’s hoping there are more. 

Aside from the clock, the building it sits in could use a little attention, too. When I drove past, the space on the ground floor looked empty while an open stair led to something on the second story. It’s clear the town of Redkey still owns the structure¹², but I’m not entirely sure what it’s being used for these days since a new town hall sits on State Road 67. Maybe someone who knows the story will reach out and fill in the blanks.

If Redkey’s effort succeeds, the old clock will soon mark time over town again, just as it did for generations before us. There’s something encouraging about that: some small-town volunteers decided that a piece of their shared history was worth saving. They didn’t wait for a grant or a government program. Instead, thy simply rolled up their sleeves, took the clock apart, and started bringing it back to life.

With a little luck -and a few more chili suppers- the hands on that Seth Thomas clock will be turning again by the Fourth of July. When that happens, the clock will be more than just a restored timepiece. It will be a reminder that even in a town of 1,100 people, history still matters and neighbors can still come together to keep it ticking. Next time I pass through Redkey on my way to Oak Grove Schoolhouse, I might just slow down a bit to see what time it is.

Sources Cited
1 Jay, M.T. (1922). History of Jay County, Indiana. Historical Publishing Company [Indianapolis]. Book. 
2 Incorporated Cities and Towns: Redkey (n.d.). Jay County Historical Society [Portland]. Web. Retrieved March 11, 2026. 
3 Thomas, L. (1983, June 19). New Restaurant Opens in Shambarger’s Spot. The Muncie Star. p. 34. 
4 Bream, R. (2015, November 19). Key Palace Theater reopens. The Muncie Star Press. p. A3. 
5 Price, M. (2026, February 25). Redkey’s 1909 clock tower mechanism lowered for first time in over a century. WANE-TV [Fort Wayne]. Web. Retrieved March 11, 2026. 
6 National Register of Historic Places, Redkey Historic District, Redkey, Jay County, Indiana, National Register # 92001168.
7 (See footnote 5). 
8 (See footnote 5). 
9 (See footnote 5). 
10 (See footnote 5). 
11 Redkey Community Development Chili Fundraiser (2026, March 7). Towns. Indiana State Government. Web. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
12 Parcel 38-09-23-101-038.000-031 (2026). Office of the Assessor. Jay County [Portland]. Web. Retrieved March 11, 2026.