Preservation Achievement Awards 2024: Philip D'Avanza for Leadership in Craftsmanship
For over 40 years, Philip D’Avanza has maintained and repaired the tower clocks of historic buildings throughout New England. One of only a dozen or so people in the country who do tower clock restoration as a full-time job, he is largely self-taught, and credits his tool-and-die background for his success.
Among the 100 clocks he has worked on in NH are those at the Conway Public Library; Thompson Hall at UNH; and the Groton Meetinghouse.
He regularly ascends to great heights, maneuvers in tight spaces, and shares his perch with bats or pigeons. When repairing clock faces and hands, he often works on staging or a large man-lift.
Adhering to preservation standards, D'Avanza repairs tower clocks with the same skill and craftsmanship that the original makers employed. Since parts are not interchangeable, he fabricates much of what he needs. Typical repairs are for worn mechanisms and gear shafts. Sometimes he brings parts back to his Goffstown shop for re-working or machine casting.
Phil is that rare individual whose knowledge and experience, coupled with an extraordinary skill and attention to detail, make him perfectly suited to the specialized historic preservation work he does so well.
“It brings me great joy and personal fulfillment to preserve a community’s history through the restoration of these great clocks. They are the heartbeat of the communities I serve, and I am inspired by their impact as a cultural connector throughout time. It’s an honor to keep them running today as they did in the past, and for future generations to come.”
Learn more about this year’s Award winners here. If you have a re-use profile to share, let us know!