Baxter Clock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Baxter Clock
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Baxter Clock, September 2012
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 323 Pollock Street New Bern, North Carolina |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1920 |
| Built by | Seth Thomas Clock Company |
| Part of | New Bern Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001319 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1973 |
The Baxter Clock is a special old street clock in New Bern, North Carolina. It was made in 1920 by the Seth Thomas Clock Company, a famous clock maker. This tall, four-sided clock stood proudly outside Baxter's Jewelry Store for many years. It's considered a historic landmark and is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After an accident in 1977, the clock was broken and stored away. But thanks to a community effort, it was beautifully restored and now stands tall again. It's believed to be one of only a few clocks of its kind still working in the whole country!
Contents
The Story of the Baxter Clock
Street Clocks: A Look Back
Long ago, from the 1860s to the early 1900s, many American cities had cool street clocks. Two big companies on the East Coast made most of them. These were the Seth Thomas Clock Company and the E. Howard Clock & Watch Company. The Baxter Clock was built in 1920 by the Seth Thomas Clock Company in Thomaston, Connecticut. Even though it was made in 1920, it looks like clocks from the late 1800s.
Its Home in New Bern
The Baxter Clock stands in front of 323 Pollock Street in New Bern. This building was built in 1918 in a Dutch Revival style. It was the home of Baxter's Jewelry Store for a long time. The jewelry store moved to Pollock Street around 1920. However, the clock wasn't put up until 1930.
A Historic Landmark
The Baxter Clock was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 2, 1973. This means it's recognized as an important historical item. The clock is also part of the New Bern Historic District. This whole district was added to the National Register of Historic Places just before the clock, on June 19, 1973.
The Accident and Restoration
On May 5, 1977, something sad happened. A furniture truck accidentally backed into the clock, damaging its base. The next day, the owners, Benny and Della Baxter, hired a company to lift the clock for repairs. But during the lift, the clock was accidentally dropped! It smashed into pieces on the sidewalk. The outside metal case was mostly okay, but the inside parts were badly broken.
This accident shocked everyone in New Bern. People missed seeing the clock. For fourteen years, only the broken base remained on the street. The damaged pieces of the clock were stored in the jewelry store's basement.
Then, in 1990, a non-profit group called Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation decided to help. They wanted to see if the clock could be fixed. The Baxter family gave the clock to Swiss Bear, hoping it would be restored. Swiss Bear then worked with the city leaders. They agreed to help restore the clock if the city would own and take care of it afterward.
Swiss Bear contacted the Verdin Company in Ohio. This company had the original designs for the clock's case. Swiss Bear started a fundraising campaign called the "Baxter Clock Restoration Campaign." They raised $28,000, which was enough money for all the repairs.
The repaired clock was finally put back up and celebrated on April 20, 1991. A special guest, Patricia Dorsey, from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, was there. Today, the Baxter Clock is believed to be the only one of its kind still working in North Carolina.
How the Baxter Clock Looks
Standing Tall
The Baxter Clock is about 20 feet (6 meters) tall. It lights up at night, making it easy to see. The clock stands on a slim column, which sits on a tall base called a pedestal. Strong metal supports go 10 feet (3 meters) underground to keep it steady. The pedestal is painted black, while the clock and its column are brown.
Details of the Pedestal
The pedestal has three square panels on each of its four sides. These panels have special vertical grooves called fluting. At the top of each side of the pedestal, you can see the words "Seth Thomas," which is the name of the company that made the clock. Behind the panels on the north and south sides are doors with iron knobs. These doors let people get inside to the clock's working parts.
The Clock's Inner Workings
Inside the pedestal, the clock works using gravity. An iron weight slowly pulls down two iron rods. This movement swings a steel and copper pendulum. The pendulum then moves the hands of a small clock hidden inside. This inner clock has the words "Seth Thomas, No. 2139, July 24, 1920" on its face. This hidden clock controls the time shown on the four big faces you see outside.
The Column and Top
The pedestal and the column are separated by two stepped sections. The column also has fluting and a fancy top called a Corinthian capital. This capital is decorated with fern-like designs called palmettes.
The very top part of the clock was made in four separate pieces. You can see the lines where these pieces join at each corner. There are also decorative lion heads on the corners, surrounded by a palmette border. Each lion has an iron ring in its mouth.
The Clock Faces
Each of the four clock faces is 3 feet (about 1 meter) wide and is covered with glass. The time is shown by hour, minute, and second hands, all made of iron. The numbers are black Roman numerals for the hours. There are also black squares for minutes, triangles for hour divisions, and diamond shapes for every three hours.
The north and south faces of the clock say "BAXTER THE JEWELER." The east and west faces say "DR. J. O. BAXTER EYESIGHT SPECIALIST." The very top of the clock has decorative crockets above each face and a three-tiered finial. A finial is a decorative top piece. This finial is decorated with twisted fluting and leaf shapes.
