The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Ticking time back into downtown
Clocks could be fixed along with Broadway streetscape upgrades
In the last few years, motorists and passersby possibly have noticed that time on large clocks has stopped in downtown Lorain and on Broadway.
But plans to restart time and restore history now are underway.
One plan involves getting the ticks back on clocks at Marzavas and Son Jewelers, previously Swiss-American, 800 Broadway; in front of the Duane Building, 401 Broadway; at Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave., in front of the police department; and an analog clock on the building.
These street and analog clocks captivate a historic sense of an old Charleston Village, but only one of the four partially works.
The clock in front of Marzavas’ is the only clock on Broadway that operates on two of its four sides.
John Marzavas, vice president of the jewelry store, said the company purchased its clock during a renovation about 15 years ago.
Marzavas said his clock and the others in the area are electric, aren’t that old and can be fixed, by the city.
However, he said he has a clock repairman of who can perform the work as well.
The clock at Marzavas and the clock outside of the Lorain Police Department were installed by Verdin Co. in Cincinnati, he said.
“There are four individual movements and four individual engines for each side that run through wires down the clock,” Marzavas said. “To adjust (the clock), they would fix it through the panel where the wires are. That’s the brains where it controls each side.”
Lori Garcia, the city’s public property manager, said staff only handled the street and analog clocks at City Hall.
The Verdin Co. installed the clock at City Hall in 2000, while the analog clock most likely was donated by local businessman Ted Jacobs in the early 1990s, Garcia said.
There once was another street clock operated by the city at Lakeview Park on West Erie Avenue, but it was removed because of a new partnership with Lorain County Metro Parks.
The clock was removed about eight years ago because of high maintenance expenses, said Bryan Goldthorpe, park manager at Lakeview.
Garcia said no records were found on the Duane Building street clock.
In 2005, the city’s traffic signal technicians replaced the motor — obtained from Verdin Co. — on City Hall’s street clock, she said.
After about the last two years of not functioning, Garcia said it may be due for another.
The analog clock has been inoperable for at least five years, she said.
Garcia said the city has been in contact with Verdin Co. and workers there indicated if a new motor is needed, it would cost around $600.
Dale Vandersommen, the city engineer, said the City Hall analog clock is controlled by a separate clock inside the building.
Vandersommen said he believes there is a mechanical issue that the city is working on.
Brian Pasela, a repair services manager of Suburban Clock repair in Berea, said because most of the clocks are not really old, parts should be available.
Pasela said it’s likely the outdoor clocks need new equipment or a simple cleaning by taking them apart and oiling the time pieces.
He noted hot or cold temperatures and rainy or windy conditions do not have an effect on them.
“These types of clocks are industrial,” Pasela said. “They are also larger clocks which are built to withstand any weather.”
Marzavas said he hoped these clocks would be fixed and utilized in Broadway’s future streetscape project for 2019.
“These clocks are all new and would look great lit up in the new streetscape
Brian Pasela, a repair services manager of Suburban Clock repair in Berea, said because most of the clocks are not really old, parts should be available
plan,” he said.
Vandersommen said the clocks on Broadway are intended to remain in their current places.
If the clocks only need electrical work, that can be addressed during construction, he said.
Construction of the streetscape project could begin in early spring 2019 and completed around late September, weather permitting, officials said.