The Clock, Downtown Traverse City, and J.N. Martinek
By Zoë Schwartz
Situated as a lamp post, the century-old Seth Thomas #4 Post Clock continues to stand in downtown Traverse City. April 1, 2024 marks the 100th birthday of the unique green clock post and the anniversary is a reminder not only of a famous clock company but also a business that, although now defunct, lives on through the clock (See image on the right). In postcards and photographs, the looming clock is often featured as part of the Front Street landscape. While Front Street has changed and businesses have thrived and died over the past century, the clock has remained on the sidewalk outside of 217 E. Front street.
Born in Bohemia, James Norbert Martinek, a watchmaker and jeweler, opened his jewelry store in 1878 (Figure 1). In 1880, the Grand Traverse Herald reported the “newcomer,” Martinek, was gaining a reputation as a “prompt and competent workman.”1 From his original location,2 Martinek moved his store to a new location in 1880, “opposite the post office,” on Front Street. Martinek’s would once again move in 1882. The new location, the Klenha building, was described as two doors east of the library building on Cass Street.3 Only a few years later in 1885, Martinek’s relocated to today’s 215 E. Front Street. Instead of referring the post office or the library as the closest landmarks, in advertisements Martinek’s store could be found at the “1st door east of Pope & McElcheran’s.”4 Shortly thereafter, in 1886, Martinek purchased the neighboring building, the J.F. Smith building (erected in 1881), today’s 217 E. Front Street (Figure 2). Only one door away from the Klenha building, advertisements would now place Martinek’s as the “2nd door east Pope & McElcheran’s.”5 Although Pope & McElcheran’s quickly disbanded, 217 E. Front Street would remain Martinek Jeweler’s address until the twenty-first century.6
History Collection, accessed March 9, 2024.
It’s not until 1924 that the iconic clock entered the Martinek brand. The first step to installing a clock in downtown Traverse City was to gain approval from the Commissioner of Public Safety, Don S. Morgan.7 The proposed clock would weigh between 3000-4000 pounds and cost $1000, a hefty sum for 1924 (today, due to inflation, that is around $18000).8
In less than a month, the clock was approved and Martinek placed an order with the popular Seth Thomas Clock Company. The Seth Thomas Clock Company designed and installed clock towers all around the US and abroad, including the Traverse City State Bank clock tower in 1904.9 Martinek & Son’s order can be found in the Seth Thomas Production book with the date of March 17, 1924, the details describe the clock we see today, the green, illuminated, 40-inch dial clock. Although Martinek’s order included “& Son” above the dial, the final design only inscribed “Martinek’s,” and “Est. 1878” was placed just under the dial in gold leaf. As for the exact date of the clock’s inception, “April 1, 1924” is stamped on an interior dial of the clock (Figure 3).
1922,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed March 9, 2024.
After 2008, no longer did Martinek’s maintain the clock in downtown, instead the new owners, would continue the tradition of winding the clock every eight days.10 Martinek's finally closed in 2022, but unlike most businesses the lasting impression of the company did not end with the closing of the store. For as long as the clock exists, its presence will be seen in photographs of downtown Traverse City, as a reminder of the old Front Street, of the successes of downtown business past, of a well-known clock manufacturer, and of a jewelry store that will never fully leave Front Street.
its original workings. (Photo courtesy of Fred Anderson.)
The journey of the Martinek’s Clock through the ages with the TADL Local History Collection:
[1] Grand Traverse Herald, April 1, 1880, 5, CMU Clarke Historical Library Digital Michigan Newspapers, accessed March 18, 2024, https://tinyurl.com/mkhmckrk.
[2] Maybe on Union Street. Mark Urban, “‘It’s Just time’: Martinek’s Jewelry closing after 144 years,” Traverse City Record Eagle, June 8, 2022, 1B, Newspaper Archive, accessed March 11, 2024.
[3] The original store might have been on Union Street. Mark Urban, “‘It’s Just time’: Martinek’s Jewelry closing after 144 years,” Traverse City Record Eagle, June 8, 2022, 1B, Newspaper Archive, accessed March 11, 2024; J. N. Martinek, “Jeweler and Watchmaker,” Grand Traverse Herald, April 15, 1880, 5, TADL Local History Collection, accessed March 14, 2024, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/3882; “J.N. Martinek will remove…” Grand Traverse Herald, June 15, 1882, 4,CMU Clarke Historical Library Digital Michigan Newspapers, accessed March 16, 2024, https://tinyurl.com/y7rxctey.
[4] Today’s 213 E. Front was once the Pope & McElcheran’s dry goods store, owned and operated by two former Hannah, Lay & Co. employees, E.H. Pope & A.W. McElcheran. The business only lasted for about four years, before the duo dissolved their partnership. J.N. Martinek, “See Here,” Grand Traverse Herald, September 3, 1885, 4 TADL Local History Collection, accessed March 17, 2024, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/2244.
[5] J.N. Martinek, “At Martinek’s Jewelry store,” Grand Traverse Herald, December 11, 1886, 4, TADL Local History Collection, accessed March 14, 2024, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/3550.
[6] Grand Traverse Herald, June 10, 1886, 5, TADL Local History Collection, accessed March 14, 2024, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/3570.
[7] J.N. Martinek, “At Martinek’s Jewelry store,” 4.
[8] "Ask Permission to Place a Post Clock: Local Jewelry Firm Makes Petition to City Commission Monday,” Traverse City Record Eagle, February 26, 1924, 13, Newspaper Archive, accessed March 11, 2024.
[9] “Seth Thomas Tower Clocks AR-NM,” p. 54, Seth Thomas Records, National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc., accessed March 11, 2024, https://pubs.nawcc.org/images/stories/research/Seth_Thomas_Tower_Clock_Records/SethThomasTowerClocks-AR-to-NM.pdf.
[10] Martha Hepler Drahos, “What a Pain,” Traverse City Record Eagle, March 14, 2010, 25, Newspaper Archive, accessed March 11, 2024.