Imagine Tacoma – Getting Clocked
With the big time countdown this week, what civic clock would you use to ring in the New Year? It seems that downtown Tacoma has a good quantity of timepieces – but what a community embarrassment for those clocks that are so prominent and yet so broken. A quick walk-about in the core found at least ½ the clocks surveyed to be inoperable or unintelligible. So imagine if errant clocks were policed and ticketed to make sure they are at least ‘close’ to be reasonably trustworthy? And if not repaired in a timely manner, the clocks are handed over to the local artists to create their own time pieces?
Just a quick thought – but now must go – so much time and so little to do.
Filed under: Imagine Tacoma
7 comments
R RR Anderson December 31, 2008
Ouch. Another excellent edition.
Hey maybe more investors would be interested in buying Old City Hall if the god damn clocktower worked!
D Davest December 31, 2008
There was a day where placing a clock in the public view was considered a grand service and even a symbol of success as clocks were expensive instruments, not digital throw-aways on every electronic device like today. Sadly, like the ornate street lamp, these devices have languished.
If they were working, maybe more folks would be looking up at the city instead of down at their Blackberries. They’d get to know their neighbor’s faces and see the details of the city.
T Thorax O'Tool December 31, 2008
Quelle heur est-il?
Je ne sais pas parce que les horloges ne travail pas.
T Ttowner January 1, 2009
Unfortunately Doc Farrens is responsible for many of the majestic clocks in Tacoma. When he passed away a few years ago the passion, dedication and knowledge of maintaining these works of art were lost as well.
P Pegsterdtown January 2, 2009
I totally agree with your comment Ttowner. I got to know Doc Ferrens right before he passed away. He would come into Knapps and have some wonderful stories to tell. I remember my son sitting at the counter having hot chocolate and being so excited by his stories. It was a sad day for all of Tacoma when this wonderful man passed away.
E Erik B. January 5, 2009
Yeah, having the City of Tacoma Old City Hall sitting there with a broken clock towering over the city in all directions is pretty pathetic. The loud message to everyone, vistors and residents alike is “Tacoma is broken.”
Pretty difficult to claim Tacoma is back on its feet with such a glaring dysfunction.
Frost Park Reference to the topic:
T Thorax O'Tool January 5, 2009
I’d love to see a life-size statue of Harold Lloyd hanging off the clock.
Remember, the great Silent Film star spent quite a fair amount of time in our Humble City…