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| The Grand Ave. clock. Photo: Docweedon |
Downtown Escondido is filled with memories of years past. Take a walk down the street of Grand Ave. and you will see forgotten pieces of a time in Escondido that was a bit slower paced than today. It's a shame that most of these treasures have been forgotten.
While taking a walk down Grand Ave. here in downtown Escondido I noticed a clock built next to Top End screen printing. It struck me as I had never noticed this clock before. Where did it come from? When was it built? What was the history of this time piece? I decided to walk into the Top End shop and ask the owner about the clock.
According to the Old Escondido Historical District, the clock panel was put up in the early 70s by what was then a jewelry store to cover the stairwell opening that was no longer needed because the second floor was removed.
The owner of Driving Styles, that occupies the store front now, occupied the shop back in the early 90's and tried to renovate the clock. He had redone the front facade and pendulum, but consistent vandalism from the local youth finally made him give up and leave the clock in the state it is today.
With the talks as of late in the Escondido city council trying to revive the downtown area, this clock would be a great piece of town history to keep around or possibly take it down to reveal the original staircase, that now leads to nowhere. Either way, it would be a great piece of Escondido history to show off!
