The Sidewalk Clock at 519 3rd Avenue was a historic cast-iron street clock located in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Installed in the early 20th century, it was one of several sidewalk clocks that once stood on the city's streets. The clock was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 1985.[1] As of at least 2011, the clock has been removed from its original location, though it remains listed on the National Register.
The clock was constructed of cast iron and stood approximately 15 feet tall. It featured a paneled, rectangular pedestal with an access panel on one side, a fluted column topped with an acanthus leaf capital, and a round dial casing with twin clock faces. After 1947, the faces were modified to include the inscription "Versailles Est. 1947" in script, along with Arabic numerals. It was situated near the curb in front of 519 Third Avenue, between East 34th and 35th Streets in Kips Bay, Manhattan. The clock was most likely manufactured by the E. Howard Clock Company of Boston, a maker of public clocks in the 19th and early 20th centuries.[2]
History
Sidewalk clocks were a common feature of New York City streets between 1880 and 1930, often installed by jewelers to attract customers and provide a public timepiece. Over the decades, many sidewalk clocks were removed or deteriorated due to urban development, changing tastes, or neglect.[3][4][2] Recognizing its historical and aesthetic significance, the clock was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 1985.[1] There are six cast-iron sidewalk clocks in New York City, all of which share similar characteristics. These include the consistent use of cast iron in their construction, a nearly uniform height of approximately fifteen feet, and comparable design elements such as a base and pedestal, a column with a capital, and a round dial housing featuring back-to-back clock faces.[5]
By 2011, photographs indicate that the sidewalk clock had been removed, as it no longer appeared in front of 519 Third Avenue. The exact date and reason for its removal are unclear. Despite its absence, the clock remains listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
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