Santa Fe in Santa Fe County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Spitz Clock

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 1, 2013

1. The Spitz Clock Marker

Inscription. The Spitz Jewelry Store was established on the Plaza in 1881, and a clock, without works, was placed in front of the store to advertise the wares offered. Near the turn of the century, this “clock” was replaced by a functioning sidewalk clock which stood until 1915, when it was knocked down by one of the first motor trucks in Santa Fe. The third Spitz clock, standing here, was purchased second-hand by Salamon Spitz in 1916 and was brought to Santa Fe from Kansas City. It stood in front of the Spitz Jewelry Store until the Plaza’s south portal was built in 1967. The clock was donated to the citizens of Santa Fe by Bernard Spitz, and was erected on this site in June of 1974.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Landmarks. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1974.

Location. 35° 41.277′ N, 105° 56.335′ W. Marker is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in Santa Fe County. It is at the intersection of West Palace Street and Lincoln Avenue, on the left when traveling west on West Palace Street. It is the edge of the plaza, next to the New Mexico Museum of Art. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Santa Fe NM 87501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Santa Fe Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); Museum of Fine Arts (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Officer's Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Hewett House (within shouting distance of this marker); El Palacio Real (within shouting distance of this marker); Annexation of New Mexico (within shouting distance of this marker); To the Heroes (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S.S. Santa Fe CL-60 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Fe.

Regarding The Spitz Clock. From a 2010 article by Julia Ann Grimm in the Santa Fe New Mexican. “ ‘The clock is a rare and wonderful part of the city’s history,’ said Michael Cochran, a gilder who restored gold leaf on the clock’s body about 17 years ago and will take up the task again sometime after Fiesta de Santa Fe. ‘The reason it is such a beautiful piece is because Howard Clock Company in Boston was known for their pocket watches and their monument clocks,’ he said. ‘This is an example of a pocket watch sculpture on a monument clock. And also it’s the only one left in public that has the original workings’.”

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, August 24, 2021

2. The Spitz Clock Marker

The marker's wooden frame has been damaged.

The Spitz Clock and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 1, 2013

3. The Spitz Clock and Marker

Santa Fe Plaza is in the distance.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,083 times since then and 109 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 1, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 2. submitted on September 17, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on May 1, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.