They say that public clocks became a necessity in the cities of this country when, as business and commerce began to supplant the dominance of agriculture, it became more important to know what time it was. Most “gentlemen” couldn’t afford a personal watch or pocket watch, so public clocks were erected. (Who knows what the “ladies” at home were supposed to do – plant a stick in the back yard and watch the sun, I guess.)

San Diego is lucky enough to have one of this country’s standout public clocks in the Jessop’s Clock at Horton Plaza. It was originally commissioned by George Jessop, a local jeweler, and it was installed outside his store in downtown San Diego in 1907. It was moved to Horton Plaza sometime in the 1980s.

Public clocks are probably less relied on as time-keepers now, since anyone over the age of 25 is strapped to a watch and driven by it – and the younger generation thinks telling time by cell phone is the way to go. (Timex, Swatch and Bulova, watch out!) Now a public clock is a meeting place or a required vacation visit/photo op. No one would go to London without seeing Big Ben. The clock in the Wrigley Tower in Chicago lords it over the avenue. The same is true of Jessop’s Clock at Horton Plaza in the Gaslamp District.

If you live in San Diego and you haven’t gone to see it and admire it, go play tourist. It’s worth a look. (The photo in this blog is from a San Diego city website. If you snap a better one, post a blog and we’ll show it to everyone for you.)