Landmark Odd Fellows Clock Tower stopped due to Lodge electrical work
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: August 08, 2008
It’s been 11:30 a.m. - or p.m., your call - in Santa Paula almost all week ,with the Odd Fellows Clock Tower down due to electrical work at the historic East Main Street structure, according to Odd Fellows Lodge 314 member and clock keeper Paul Skeels.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
It’s been 11:30 a.m. - or p.m., your call - in Santa Paula almost all week ,with the Odd Fellows Clock Tower down due to electrical work at the historic East Main Street structure, according to Odd Fellows Lodge 314 member and clock keeper Paul Skeels.
“There’s nothing wrong with the clock itself, but some work is being done on the electrical on the upper floor of the lodge,” said Skeels. Although there have been no calls asking why the clock has stopped, “We wanted to get an explanation out of why it’s been 11:30 the last couple of days.”
The landmark tower with its distinctive clock - located at 868 E. Main St. - has been the focus of much attention. Last year the clock underwent a major rehabilitation by members of Ventura County Chapter 190 of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc.
Members dismantled, cleaned and repaired the historic 1905 Seth Thomas tower clock that drives the four dials, helped by of a grant from the Santa Paula Historical Society. The restoration of the clock was completed and celebrated in October.
“The Lodge is optimistic that the repairs will be completed soon so the clock can be reactivated,” said Skeels. “There’s nothing wrong with the clock itself, and we’re not sure when the electrical work will be done... it’s not a huge job but who can hurry electricians?”
With the return of electrical power, Skeels will be at the ready to reset the clock, “unless of course the power comes on at exactly 11:30.” Save such a remarkable coincidence, Skeels will have to use a hand crank device to advance the clock’s hands. “The device twirls and it takes about 45 seconds to get it to advance about one hour.”
The Lodge needs the electrical work. “Some of that wiring is 100 years old, and we’re also having a little modification for lighting,” although Skeels admitted “I don’t understand or appreciate electricity, but I do know that I don’t want to be near it when it’s hot.”
Since the clock was restored, “It’s been working real well, although we had a problem with the south facing linkage” that Skeels said at one point was binding and causing some slippage affecting the whole mechanism. “It’s the only maintenance we’ve had to do” since the restoration, other than occasional oiling to lubricate the bearings. “For a piece of 100-year-old-plus machinery,” noted Skeels, “that’s not bad.”
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