Ventura County Landmark No. 61: Odd Fellows' Town Clock
Historical Background
This historic four-faced Seth Thomas clock hangs above the Santa Paula Odd Fellows Lodge 314 hall in Santa Paula (Williams, 1991). Originally weight-driven, the clock was installed in 1905 and still tolls the hours with its cast bronze bell. Above each face, the Odd Fellows’ insignia (three links symbolizing friendship, truth, and love) is carved in wood. The original lead weights were set with a hand winch which was wound every Monday morning. In 1952, a frayed cable that supported the weights led to the clock being converted to electric power.
The Seth Thomas Company
As the longest established clock maker in the United States, Seth Thomas began producing clocks in 1813 and is recognized as one of the most respected brands in the world (The Clock Depot, 2023). During its early years, the company quickly gained a reputation for finely crafted grandfather clocks and later became nationally known for designing major tower clocks, including the iconic tower clock at Grand Central Terminal in New York (The Clock Depot, 2023).
The Clock Today
After many years of silence, members of the Ventura County chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors launched an all-volunteer effort to restore the 1905 Seth Thomas clock to working order (Mckinnon, 2007). The clockworks were disassembled, taken home by volunteers and individually cleaned. The bell was repaired and then moved outside of the tower door. After a series of adjustments and dedicated restoration work, the clock was fully restored, and the town celebrated in October of 2007 and once again chimes the hours for Santa Paula residents (McKinnon, 2007).
References
The Clock Depot (2023). “The Seth Thomas company.” https://www.theclockdepot.com/seth_thomas_clocks.html.
Mckinnon, L. (2007, October 4). Group gets Santa Paula’s historic clock ticking again. Ventura County Star. https://archive.vcstar.com/lifestyle/group-gets-santa-paulas-historic-clock-ticking-again-ep-374940036-352779771.html/
Williams, K. (1991, February 11). Landmarks County Historical Sites: Santa Paula Tower Keeps on Ticking. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-11-me-717-story.html
Date Designated: July 1980
Location: 868 East Main Street, Santa Paula
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