Clock Making in Colonial East New Jersey

Time is ticking so don’t miss this presentation on early Colonial Clock Making in East New Jersey. In early America, craftsmen came together to build the bourgeoning clock making industry. Two schools of clock making developed, one in Burlington, West Jersey, and the other in Elizabethtown, East Jersey. Initially, the clock makers followed English designs but eventually developed their own uniquely American style. The craftsmen of both the clock making industry and the cabinet making industry worked together to raise the “grandfather clock” to its ultimate expression of elegance as seen in the Federal clocks produced in places like Elizabethtown, Westfield, New Brunswick and Flemington. These clocks, now over two hundred years old, rank with the most beautiful clocks ever produced in the country. The Westfield Historical Society is proud to present this program in association with the NJ Council for the Humanities and strives to provide additional historical programs of interest to the surrounding community. 

David Sperling, MD originally became interested in Fine Arts and Antiques in college, graduating with a double degree in Fine Arts & Pre-Med Science from Columbia College in NY. After continuing on to Medical School and enjoying an illustrative career in the medical industry, David returned to his original interests in Fine Arts and now is the Proprietor of Father & Sons Antiques. Both as a lecturer and appraiser of Clocks and watches, David brings with him a unique talent and much experience in the Clock Appraisal arena. For further information, call the Westfield Historical Society's office at 908-654-1794 or visit www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

The program is open to the public and free of charge.This program is funded by the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.