BY ROBIN MIMNA
As daylight saving time rolls in, a dedicated crew of timekeepers across West Volusia ensure that our historic clocks and bell towers stay in sync with the shifting hours. From churches to courthouses, each institution has its own method — some steeped in tradition, others embracing modern technology — to keep the community ticking along smoothly.
Lake Helen’s First Congregational Church: ringing in time, one workout at a time
At First Congregational United Church of Christ in Lake Helen, keeping time is both an art and a bit of cardio. The church’s clock and bells run on an electronic carillon system, sparing anyone from having to squeeze into the cramped bell tower.
“When it comes to daylight saving time, we use a small electronic device about the size of a cellphone to adjust the clock,” Vicky Horn, the church office manager, explained. “No one needs to squeeze into the clock tower — it’s way too small for that!”
But Sundays are different. That’s when tradition, and upper-body strength, take over, as a heavy rope must be pulled by hand to set the church’s massive bell swinging. The deep, resonant chimes don’t come easily; ringing the bell requires determination, a firm grip, and a bit of muscle, but the result is a sound that carries across the city.
St. Ann’s Catholic Church: timelessly electronic
Over in DeBary, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, built in 1961, has long embraced the convenience of modern technology. “As long as anyone can remember, we’ve had an electronic bell,” a church representative noted. The system automatically updates for daylight saving time, sparing anyone from having to fiddle with the settings.
St. Barnabas in DeLand: hymns that follow the clock
Founded in 1882, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, one of DeLand’s oldest churches, marks time with music. Every Sunday, as parishioners leave the service, recorded hymns play from the church’s recorded system, echoing the day’s worship. The recorded bells also play at noon and during school drop-off and pickup times.
Rebecca DeWitt, a longtime church member, confirmed that the “bells” are now fully automated. “It’s all a recording now,” she said. “We make adjustments for daylight savings time electronically.”
The Historic Courthouse Clock: a modern brain in a historic face
In Downtown DeLand, the Historic Courthouse Clock continues to keep time with a mix of old-world craftsmanship and modern convenience. While much of the clock’s original movement remains intact, a modern electronic system — controlled from a drive in the basement — ensures that daylight saving time changes happen without a hitch.
Hulley Tower: a future of chiming once more?
Stetson University’s Hulley Tower once served as a campus landmark, its bells ringing out to mark important moments, from mealtimes to celebrations. Though the tower was dismantled in 2005 after sustaining hurricane damage, efforts are ongoing to restore and rebuild this historic structure — so perhaps one day, its bells will chime again.
Why do we even change the clocks?
Before 1918, churches, schools, and town halls had no need to fiddle with their clocks — time stayed the same year-round. Then came daylight saving time, introduced in the U.S. during World War I as an energy-saving measure. It was abolished, reinstated and debated for decades before the Uniform Time Act of 1966 finally standardized the practice. In 2005, daylight saving time was extended once again — this time, to give trick-or-treaters more daylight on Halloween, a rare win for candy collectors everywhere.
A community in sync
Whether adjusted with the pull of a rope, the tap of a button, or the magic of automation, the clocks and bells of West Volusia remind us that time marches on — sometimes with a little nudge. So as you groggily reset your microwave and car clocks this week, take comfort in knowing that across the county, timekeepers have already made sure the big clocks are keeping up.
