At least for now!
Those who were around the Financial District earlier on Tuesday, November 17, may have noticed the odd sight of the Custom House Tower clock without hands. Yes, the iconic clock has come to a standstill and its hands have been removed but not for long.
The weathered hands were removed on Tuesday as part of the restoration process of the historical clock, which will be back in business as usual next month once the new handles are finished.
Custom House Tower clock hands are…gone? On every face. @universalhub – know anything? pic.twitter.com/PjU2FvGI7S
— Jessica A. Kent (@jessica_a_kent) November 16, 2020
The hands from all four sides were taken down to replace them with new ones which will be impervious to the harsh New England weather. Ed Kinney, global vice president of communications for Marriott Vacations Worldwide, which owns the historic property, told the Globe a Maine-based company is already working on the new giant hands that will be ready later in December.
“It’s part of our ongoing commitment to maintain the legacy of the building and continue to improve it for generations to come,” he said. “It’s such an iconic landmark for the area.”
The hours and minutes hands were taken down by the Harvard-based Yankee Steeplejack Company, which shared a video of the hands being lowered from their usual spot atop the tower.
The 495-foot tower was added to the Custom House building in 1915 and for a time it was the tallest skyscraper in the city until it was surpassed by the Prudential Tower in 1964. A year after the tower’s completion its famous clock started ticking and has been helping Bostonians keep track of time ever since.
It is rather strange to see Boston’s most famous clock go literally timeless and we cannot wait to see it back in business telling the time to all of us Bostonians as usual!
See also: Boston’s ‘Snowport’ Is Now Open For The Holidays
[Featured image: Instagram / @kilavisuals]