Tacoma’s prized clock needs help. It will take more money than anticipated | Opinion
Tacoma has grown and evolved over the years, constantly redefining its role in the region and the world. As we continue to shape and define Tacoma’s cultural identity, there are many things across the city that connect our present to our past.
The street clock on Broadway Avenue that stood outside LeRoy Jewelers downtown, steps away from our Theater District on Broadway Avenue, is one example.
Created by Joseph Mayer, Seattle’s only maker of street clocks, the clock was first brought to Tacoma in 1920. It was well cared for over the years, with much of its original inner workings intact. However, after decades of constant wear, it needed to be restored to prevent catastrophic mechanical failure that would destroy it entirely.
Anecdotally, the clock was donated to the City of Tacoma by Flo Rose’s family who, at the time, had a pawn shop on Pacific Avenue. Flo Rose belonged to my temple, Temple Beth El. She was a feisty old woman who would tell you how it is. I can just hear her telling me, “It is the right thing for you to do. Fix this clock.”
Last December, I sponsored a City Council contingency fund request for $35,000 to cover repairs to the clock. We were able to find a talented conservator who spent painstaking hours on its intricate inner workings, making it work again. We thought we had set aside enough funds to fix it but, recently, I learned we were going to need extra funds to paint its exterior.
The clock was very worn, and had been subject to extreme weather conditions, with saltwater from Commencement Bay corroding it. Marine paint, which is used to preserve the hulls on boats and ships, is required to keep the clock in good condition in its Downtown Tacoma location. To cover the cost of this more heavy-duty paint, we will need $20,000 more than what we initially budgeted.
I know a lot of people would think, “It’s just a clock. Why does it matter?”
It matters because it’s not just about the clock itself.
The clock represents what Broadway has meant to our community for years. Broadway was a place where U.S. presidents held rallies, and where people heard the baseball scores before there was television.
Today, it brings together our community with public events and the Downtown Farmers Market. It is the beating heart of our Theater District, where the Pantages, Rialto, and Theater on the Square sit.
The Broadway clock represents Downtown Tacoma in a myriad of ways. While it represents the past, it also symbolizes how we envision the present and approach the future.
These are just some of the reasons why a community-led fundraising effort was recently launched online.
What happens now?
Does time stop as we allow the Broadway clock to succumb to the ravages of wear? Or does it keep pace with Tacoma as it continues to grow and evolve? What would Flo Rose do?
As Tacomans, let’s come together and preserve our history and heritage.
This story was originally published October 26, 2023 at 5:00 AM.