52,261,280 Minutes and Still Ticking

Last year was a very monumental year in the history of Canada Post, in Port Perry. It was the 100th anniversary of the spectacular building that has graced Queen Street for its entire existence.

This year marks another milestone in the history of that fantastic building. It is now in transition from being a post office to becoming something else. As most of you know, our mail services have moved to 158 Water Street, which is not a major upheaval for most.

Over the years, there have been numerous articles and tidbits written about the grand old building, but when I received a call from Canada Post’s Heather Garvock, inviting me to photograph the clock works in the tower, I was extremely excited.

From the top floor of the old building, I made my way up a thirty your old steep set of wooden stairs, into a small opening. The constant loud ticking, came from the huge green mechanism, which took up most of the room.

The story of Port Perry’s clock began on September 26, 1913, when J. Smith and Sons of the Midland Clock Works in Derby, England received an order for a clock destined for the town’s new post office. Recorded in the company’s historic sales register, the order detailed a “Turret Clock with four 4-foot dials striking hours on an 800-pound bell.” The components of this timepiece embarked on their journey in October of that year, leaving Liverpool, England by ship, and arriving in Montreal. From there, the clock parts were transported by train to Port Perry, where they awaited assembly.

Installation began four months after the post office opened its doors. The mechanics who undertook the task meticulously assembled the clock, and by mid-May 1914, it was ready to chime. As it boomed out the time over the village of Port Perry, not everyone was impressed. The publisher of the local paper stated it was barely audible unless one stood directly outside the building.

In the weeks that followed, there were hiccups. From time to time, the clock would cease to chime, however as the weeks progressed it settled nicely into its routine duty.

The mechanism that keeps the clock’s hands in motion is a marvel of engineering, crafted with the precision and durability characteristic of a bygone era. Made primarily of cast iron, the clock’s inner workings include bronze and brass gears and steel shafts, each component accurately designed to ensure the smooth operation of this historic timepiece. The clock’s mechanism is divided into two distinct gear trains: the time train, responsible for moving the hands, and the striking train, which powers the bell that marks each passing hour.

Each of the four clock faces, measuring four feet in diameter, is a masterpiece of artisanship. These faces are assembled from hand-painted glass, reminiscent of stained glass in their intricate design. The glass is set within a sturdy black iron frame, with lead came holding the panes together, and Roman numerals marking the hours. The minute hand, sweeping gracefully across the face, stretches to a length of more than a metre, while the hour hand is slightly shorter.

Like all mechanical devices, the post office clock has not been immune to the passage of time. Over the past century, it has experienced its share of issues, from minor glitches to more significant interruptions that required extensive service and repairs. One of the most notable restorations occurred in 1975, during a renovation of the post office. At that time, the clock, which had been out of commission for several years, was carefully repaired and brought back to life.

No matter what the future of the building holds, the past will certainly be a large part of it.

Jonathan van Bilsen is an award winning photographer, author, columnist and television host. Follow his travel adventures at photosNtravel.com