THIS WEEK MARKED a week of time. Of deadlines and changes. Time to get the fish house off the lake by midnight Monday in the lower two-thirds of Minnesota or risk a fine or house removal. Time to pull out the snowblower, for some the first time this winter. Time to give up sweets, or whatever, in the penitent season of Lent. And now this weekend, time to move time forward an hour.
That got me thinking about some of the outdoor public clocks I’ve seen through the years. They are not only useful if you want to know the time. But they are also works of art and part of local history.
Take for example, four prominent clocks in Faribault. A refurbished 1915 box style clock graces the Security Bank Building at 302 Central Avenue in the heart of downtown. In 2015, a professional clock “doctor” and a local stained glass artist restored the clock with funding efforts led by the Faribault Rotary Club. The bank clock is truly an historic and artistic jewel in my community. I can only imagine how many people have walked beneath that clock in its 110-year history.
Several blocks to the south, a clock focuses the base of the central tower at Buckham Memorial Library, a lovely Moderne/Art Deco style limestone building constructed in 1929 and on the National Register of Historic Places. The stained glass window below the clock was designed by Charles Connick of Boston. This is a timeless classic building where generations of families have pulled books from the shelves to grow their knowledge and simply for the joy of reading.
Just blocks away, a clock fronts the Fourth Street side of the Rice County Courthouse, built in 1932, also in the Art Deco style. Each year, events honoring veterans happen at the Rice County Veterans Memorial within view of the courthouse clock. For a moment or an hour, time stands still as we remember the sacrifices made for country, for democracy, by our veterans.
And then across the Straight River on the east side of Faribault, the Shumway Hall clock tower rises on the campus of Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in a complex of buildings that looks more castle than private college prep school. City View Park atop a hill blocks from campus offers a bird’s eye view of the tower, a view that is especially stunning in autumn. Shumway’s tower is assuredly a Faribault landmark, with Shumway Hall built in 1887 and on the National Register of Historic Places. Thousands of students have passed beneath that clock tower as they learned, studied and grew. Time passages.
Each day we mark time. Just as these notable outdoor public clocks do in Faribault. I expect most locals take these historic clocks for granted, pass by them without a thought. Too often we do that in our personal lives also, thinking we have all the time in the world. Until we don’t.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Like you, I photograph historic clocks when I see them. Time marches on doesn’t it? Love your post highlighting the strength and beauty of yesteryear’s craftsmanship.
Thank you for appreciating my historic clock pix. They truly are fine examples of yesteryear’s craftsmanship.
I love beautiful old clocks, they used to be relied on and held a place of prominence in many cities/towns, both big and small. the effort and art and hours put into them are apparent when you see them. I imagine you’re right, many do just take them for granted. your words about the things you ned to move or change locally, signal a move, a step, toward spring, for which I am grateful.
There’s something about a clock…
A fun post Audrey. I’ll be paying attention to the clocks in Northfield
And I’ll have to look for the clocks in Northfield next time I’m wandering downtown.
That Security Bank clock is a beauty! I like the font used for the numbers– classic, with a bit of a quirk to it, but easy to read.
Public clocks are becoming scarce. Unlike most people (it seems), I do not carry a cell phone with me, and find wrist watches irritating to wear. It’s a guessing game now, when asked to wait in the lobby of my clinic for 15 minutes after receiving a vaccine (in case of an adverse reaction)– unless I feel like bothering someone to ask for the time. I guess I should consider bringing a small kitchen timer with me.
Now that I’ve reached geezerhood, the annual Medicare wellness exam amuses me as I follow instructions to draw an analog clock face and indicate a specified time. When will this test be abandoned because new geezers will want to draw a digital display?
Jimmy Kimmel has conducted admittingly unscientific experiments regarding this: https://youtu.be/ZvLKbhXqEKw?feature=shared and https://youtu.be/PIe2auW9EMI?feature=shared
And now I realize why, during a showing, some realtors had difficulties unlocking the door of a condo below me. The door has two locks, which operate differently. To be helpful, instructions were posted above the locks: to unlock the top lock, turn the key clockwise; the bottom lock, counterclockwise.
Ha!
These are all great observations and comments, which made me laugh. And I need laughter more and more these days. I do wear a watch AND carry a cellphone. And I’ve reached geezerhood.
I enjoyed your creative piece on marking time. It was clever intertwinning actual clocks from the area as well as the more abstract thinking of time passing and marking time in our lives. There were several ideas to ponder in your blog piece today. Nicely done.
Thank you, Sue. It’s good to hear from you.
Beautiful old clocks! The town I live in doesn’t have an old clock but one of the gas stations has a flashing sign that will tell you the time of day.
Yes, these clocks in my community are beautiful. I’m not so keen on flashing signs. But I suppose it serves the purpose of telling time.