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About This File
Clinton Clock Tower, part of the Smalltown, USA Series by JBSimio
The village of Clinton was a small farming community founded in 1839. It served as the only place for merchants and trade for miles. The village remained small a tight-knit for decades. The main rail lines transporting goods and passengers between Detroit and Chicago passed through this small cluster of buildings. Local merchants and leaders began to consider the option of making a stop along these lines. In 1883, a small train depot was constructed along the main line in the center of town at the crossroads of the Old Sauk Trail and
Sharon Hollow Road . The financers dreamed big, and constructed a three story structure with boarding rooms and other services on the upper floors, as well as a clock tower facing the main intersection in town. The influx of goods and people quickly increased the size of Clinton, although it retained its small town charm. As time went on and the railroads began to fall into disuse, the local depot was abandoned. The building sat vacant for a number of years until an effort to save the building was set in motion. The building received a complete exterior facelift and was subdivi-
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