On Friday, September 26, 2025, beginning at 11:00 a.m. long time Jasper resident, Jim Hedinger, will
present a program on clocks at the Dubois County Museum at 2704 N. Newton Street in Jasper.
His program does not only center on clocks, though, it is a history lesson on clocks, mass
production and interchangeable parts. Mr. Hedinger grew up learning about his Swiss ancestry
and the Swiss’ fascination with clocks. He traveled through areas in Europe finding his family’s
origins. Hedinger also visited Connecticut in which he learned more about an early clock
pioneer, Eli Terry. Wikipedia states that “Terry was an inventor and clockmaker in Connecticut.
He received a United States patent for a shelf clock mechanism. He introduced mass
production to the art of clock making, which made clocks affordable for the average American
citizen. Terry occupies an important place in the beginnings of the development of
interchangeable parts manufacturing. Terry is considered the first person in American history to
actually accomplish interchangeable parts with no government funding. Terry became one of
the most accomplished mechanics in New England during the early part of the nineteenth
century”. In his presentation Hedinger will touch on our own rich history in Dubois County of
German workmanship settling here from New England and Europe and putting into use mass
production and machinery in our workplaces. Our own industrial age saw our area workers
using the power from the water in the rivers to power the mills, then moving on to steam
engines for power, and then to finally the use of electricity in manufacturing.
The cost of the program is free, but admission to the museum will be charged. Cost of
admission is $5 per adult. Those holding a museum membership will be admitted free.
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