The City of Sacramento has returned a completely restored Fred Mayes Jewelers street clock to its home at 10th and J streets. A short event to showcasing the final assembly of the last remaining pieces was held Wednesday, May 2, at 11:30 a.m.
The $24,000 project was made possible through historic grants, downtown redevelopment tax increment funds and federal Community Development Block Grant funds available through the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. No City general funds were spent on the project.
Other donors paying for the electronic clock movement include the Mayes family, the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, former City Councilmember Ray Tretheway, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and the Trust for Historic Preservation.
The clock is likely more than 100 years old, although the first clear evidence is a 1924 photo of the clock in its original design in front of 1009 K St., its original location.
The restored landmark clock is a small but significant example of the City’s commitment to preserve its heritage. This clock, the nearby Citizen Hotel, the Elks Building, and the Sheraton are fine examples of the great architectural history of Sacramento and testament to how the City is building on history. This public/private partnership ensures that this clock will keep us on time for years to come.