Gillette histories

From the Jan. 5 1956 News Record:
A grandfather clock that was believed by local owners to be more than 200 years old was definitely determined to be entering its 312th year since being made. When the pendulum in the clock recently wore a hole in the shaft and fell to the bottom of the case, the discovery of the clock’s age was found by S.C. Steiner while attempting to make the repairs. Steiner related that in removing a wooden piece from the back of the clock, he found writing on both sides of it dating back to 1644. In clocks and violins it was a common practice in the old days to make records of dates of manufactures, sales and repairs, he said. A Joseph Krupp had apparently made the case and works, or perhaps just the case, in 1644. Another date of June 16, 1880, carried the name of Edward Gratz, Steiner’s father-in-law, who had probably purchased the clock at that time. Still another date of 1900 carries a Philadelphia jeweler’s name who repaired the antique. At the present time the clock is owned by Miss Mary F. Gratz, daughter of Edward Gratz. Steiner commented that the works are still good and with the pendulum wired back in place the timepiece is once more keeping good time. The works are propelled by the weight of two small hand pounded brass buckets on chains connected to the clock’s mechanism. Pebbles in the buckets provide the correct amount of weight.
From the Jan. 7 1965 News Record:
Former resident of Gillette, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Landers, Sr., of Portland, Ore., have informed Mrs. Landers’ brother, Arley Butcher of Gillette, of the tragic death of their daughter-in-law. Complete information is not available at this time, Butcher said, but apparently the daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ray Landers Jr., of Portland died of self-inflicted knife wounds after having attacked her husband and three children in their home at about 3 a.m. Monday. The family of five were all hospitalized and treated for knife wounds. The mother died about on and one-half hours after arrival. The cause of her actions were not known. The father and children were believed recovering.