“Better three hours too soon than a minute too late,” said Shakespeare in his play “The
Merry Wives of Windsor.” The catchy line implies that it is certainly better to be early than to be
tardy.
Better three weeks too soon than a day too late applies to this blog but be that as it my,
and tardy as it is, it is time to tell the tale of the new timepiece on the Town Common. On August
9, 2025 the Farmville Home and Lawn Garden Club members unveiled the 15-foot, eight-inch
tall clock. Situated at the corner of North Main Street and Belcher Street, the clock is designed to
look like a pocket watch.
“It is a gift – a symbol – not only of the passing of time, but of the legacy we hope to
leave for generations to come,” said Mrs. LaRue King, who spearheaded the project.
King came up with the original idea. “It was just a dream that I thought about several
years ago.” She then suggested the project to the members of the Garden Club who have always
worked to enhance the Town.
The large timepiece sits atop a five-foot granite base that is eight inches thick. “The
Farmville Town Clock pays tribute to our past while standing tall for the future,” says King.
The Electric Time Company of Medfield, Massachusetts, a firm with more than 100 years
in the industry, manufactured the clock. To cover the $33,000 cost of the project, the club used
funds from a spaghetti dinner fundraiser and other generous donations from community
members. Farrior and Sons, Inc. installed the timepiece on the Town Common.
Modeled after the iconic Howard pocket watch, the low maintenance mechanisms are
powered electronically. In 1858, Edward Howard founded his business, E. Howard and Co., and
produced and sold high-grade watches and clocks in Boston. By 1868, they had introduced the first stem-winding watch. Considered among the best timepieces in the country, they were
routinely advertised to railroad employees because of their precision.
“This clock is not just a beautiful addition to our streetscape,” says King, “it is a lasting
reminder that time is precious and when we work together we can build something meaningful that endures.”
The installation of this clock continues the outstanding legacy of the Farmville Home and
Lawn Garden Club who over the years has worked together diligently to enhance the town with their projects. They have organized tree plantings at Farmville schools and placed flags along Main Street. The active club also has placed seasonal floral displays in the downtown area.
With the clock now permanently displayed on the Town Common, community members
have no excuse to ignore Shakespeare’s advice to arrive early rather than late. The clock is there
to keep them on schedule, beautify the Town Common and leave a lovely lasting legacy.
