Box Jewelers
Brown Street Clock
Monrovia, California
This Brown Street Clocks stands in front of The Jewelry Box
Jewelry Store
History of Box Jewelry Clock
Dr. William G. Barks, originally from New York, worked as a watchmaker with Howard E. Rader, jeweler, at 603 S. Myrtle Avenue. In 1913-14,
Dr. Barks opened up an optometry and jewelry store at 507 S. Myrtle Avenue. At sometime between 1920 and 1923, the address of Dr. Barks'
business changed from 507 to 509 S. Myrtle Avenue.
In 1921, Glenn L. Box and his wife Ivah arrived in Monrovia and bought the jewelry part of the Dr. Barks' business. The 1922-23 Monrovia
Telephone Directory lists the jewelry store at 509 S. Myrtle Avenue. The Box residence was at Standish Court, Apt, C on West White Oak
(now Foothill Blvd. ).
So far, we have not been able to determine when the clock went up, but it was when the business was still on the west side of Myrtle.
Since Dr. Barks was a watchmaker, it may be that it was his name which originally appeared on the clock. The Boxes put the name "Glenn L. Box Jeweler"
on the clock dials.
This old picture dated 1927 shows the clock at its original position, across and up the street at 509 S. Myrtle Ave. In 1931, they moved their
business, with the clock, to 518 S. Myrtle Avenue, its present location.
Sam and Jeaneane Silverman, one time owners of Box Jewelers, gifted the clock to the
the Monrovia Old House Preservation Group. Today the clock has been given 'Historic Landmark Status'
by the City of Monrovia.
The preservation group plans to restore the faces of the clock to what is shown in the original picture.
More Brown Street Clocks