Overview
One of the neighborhood’s hidden treasures is Barthman’s clock, a timepiece embedded in the sidewalk, dating back to 1899. The clock, lined with Roman numbers and lodged in a brass compass rose circle directly in the sidewalk, was originally an advertising gimmick. It was installed in the late 19th century to draw customers into William Barthman Jewelers, which was located right behind it. The original William Barthman Jewelers location is gone — it now has two locations, at 20 Broad Street and in Brooklyn, respectively — but the clock has remained. It’s been rebuilt over the years: first because the original clock’s designer, Frank Homm, died in 1917 and was the only one who knew how to fix its original unique mechanical jump design with numbered tablets. Then, in recent years, to reverse wear and tear from street use.
