Clock placed in downtown Abbeville

Downtown Abbeville received a new attraction Thursday morning, and it’s about time.
Workers with the City of Abbeville’s electrical department placed a Verdin clock on the southwest corner walkway entrance to the Vermilion Parish Courthouse.
The clock is a joint project between the city and the Vermilion Parish Police Jury. The city’s portion is being covered by the $13,000 it received last year through the Louisiana Local Government Assistance Program (LGAP).
Councilman Brady Broussard Jr., whose district includes downtown, helped spearhead the project for the city.
“The response to the idea was overwhelmingly positive and today’s responses after the installation of the clock has been 100 percent favorable,” Broussard said. “In the time it took for the Verdin Clock Company representative to set the clock up today, citizens were stopping in awe to photograph this new, but old looking city clock.”
Broussard said encouragement and vocal support came from the Abbeville Main Street Program, Keep Abbeville Beautiful organization and the Abbeville Garden Club, as well as citizens from throughout the city.
The new four-sided clock as Vermilion Parish written on it and Abbeville written on the top. The clock is weather proof and sealed to make sure no water or moisture seeps inside. Verdin clocks are painted in a proprietary, high-tech paint finish that is said to stand up against cold, humidity, salt spray and sunlight exposure.
“It’s been years since our downtown had a city clock,” Broussard said. “Now and for decades and generations to come, citizens and visitors alike can enjoy this historical replica clock in front of our beautiful courthouse.”
Broussard thanked all involved for helping to make the clock a reality.
“This is a result of great cooperation between the city and the police jury,” he said. “The Mayor and City Council were very supportive of this concept and addition to our downtown historical district using a LGAP grant.”
While the clock serves as a nice addition to Abbeville’s downtown charm, it’s hardly the end of improvements.
“This clock is only one part of a master plan of improvements happening in our downtown area,” Broussard said. “The recent addition of murals, a streetscape grant improvement plan in our future, refurbishments of the Frank’s theatre by Allume’, the relocation of the tourist center to downtown, a beautiful war memorial, and of course Sounds on the Square and Farmer’s Markets along with festivals are all drawing visitors to enjoy our picturesque downtown.”