Jacobs Jewelers clock - back in six months?

[Bativac]

Wife and I were strolling thru Downtown Jax an hour ago and it occurred to me that the Jacobs clock is still gone. I did some Googling and searched MetroJacksonville and all I learned was that the city owns the clock and can't come up with around $4k to fix it. From what I read, the owner of Jacobs Jewelers was willing to loan the city the cash, though a fund was set up at the time Jacobs transferred ownership of the clock to the city, to provide for future repairs. But the article I found that information in looks like it's over a year old. (http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2011-04-25)

So what's up? Anybody know? Seems kinda funny to have the plaque telling all about the clock, but no clock. In fact I don't even see a spot for it on the sidewalk.

Is it gone forever? My wife thinks the city sold it. She's not from here and I assured her that Jacksonville city officials would never do anything untoward or detrimental to downtown.

[I-10east]

She's not from here and I assured her that Jacksonville city officials would never do anything untoward or detrimental to downtown.

Oh boy, get ready for the sarcastic 'Jax already torn down most of DT, why not some more' replies.

[BackinJax05]

^LOL^

[duvaldude08]

Well looks like we probably spent the money a long time ago on something else and dont wanna account for it. This is the type of stuff that has to stop. To make it even more funny, the city plays dumb.

[BackinJax05]

^When it comes to dumb (or doing things half @$$ed or @$$ backwards) the city AINT PLAYING.

[jcjohnpaint]

What clock?   
You know I thought the same thing when in DT yesterday. 
Next time you will be asking what happened to the skyway and the city will say they sent it off to be repaired. 

[sandyshoes]

Actually, they've done this before, and the same way - they did store it offsite for safekeeping and cleaning, etc, and then returned it after work was done.  What is laughable is that the City can't scrape up a measley $4,000 (would the historical society be able to help?), and what is sad is that the article said they are going to put an electronic mechanism in it - horrors!!!  I hope that doesn't mean that a beautiful piece of art like that is going to have an ugly digital display?  Please, say that ain't so. 

[jcjohnpaint]

Yeah if it does comeback it will look like a Rolex with a digital calculator watch face

[Noone]

WOW!  I was Downtown the other day and was looking for the clock and had that same thought. I thought it was here.

You want to get fired up? look up 2012-202 and our city council took $9000 bucks from 4 separate accounts for  free parking for city council members.

So $4000 is needed to fix the clock. Create an account by ordinance. Like 2009-442 The artificial reef trust fund. FIND out where it is being stored. Have a FOOD TRUCK rally and Field is just the man along with the MJ team, RAP, Downtown Vision, SPAR, Springfield, San Marco, you get the idea EVERYONE to immediately raise the 4k.

The clock is an iconic piece of Downtown Jacksonville history.

PUBLIC, PRIVATE, PARTNERSHIP? I'm All In.

[Debbie Thompson]

Me, too.  Let's do some fundraising.  Otherwise, it will "disappear" like the lights on the Klutho bridges did.  So many things are unaffordable to raise funds for.  $4000 is so totally do-able. I like the food truck rally idea.  A $5 donation for "admission" to go toward the clock restoration.

[Ocklawaha]

Hell we can't even compete with downtown Sanford!

You mean vanish like the plaque on the old Lee Street Viaduct? Perhaps we could go down and steal the clock from Downtown Sanford.  'Jax already torn down most of DT, why not some more!'

[I-10east]

'Jax already torn down most of DT, why not some more!'

Damn I'm good! I should be a psychic.

[I-10east]

^^^I'll conjure up something, don't worry.

[Bativac]

Me, too.  Let's do some fundraising.  Otherwise, it will "disappear" like the lights on the Klutho bridges did.  So many things are unaffordable to raise funds for.  $4000 is so totally do-able. I like the food truck rally idea.  A $5 donation for "admission" to go toward the clock restoration.

But according to the article in the original post, the owner of Jacobs Jewelers offered to front the city the money to get the repairs done.

This is frustrating because 1) The clock was still there before, at least, even if it did need repairs; 2) The original owners of the clock transferred ownership to the city under the belief that they would be good stewards of an historic artifact; 3) THE MONEY WAS THERE!!! 4) This isn't just Jacksonville history - this is one of only 10 or so of these clocks estimated to remain throughout the country.

It's like the city has some kind of grudge against anything historic downtown.

[jcjohnpaint]

so is anyone sure it isn't coming back?