Salem's Town Clock had taken shape in the minds of the congregation of the First Baptist Church when they erected their present building in 1845-46, for they included a clock tower.  On June 19, 1846 a committee of eleven was formed under chairmanship of Rev. J. A. Gibbs, pastor of the church, to raise money to buy a clock and a bell.  Other citizens of Salem had now joined the Baptists in the project.

The original timepiece was made by Jacob D. Custer, of Norristown, Pa., and it was installed by September 26, 1846 when the bell was rung for the first time.

By 1857, care of the clock had passed to the Wheeler family, clock makers of Salem since 1844 who, with their employees, had been its "personal physicians" at least through 1947.  As of January 1947, Oscar O. Smith watchmaker at Wheeler's had performed this for nearly 56 years.

The bell was rung in celebration of the end of the Civil War and tolled for the funeral of President Lincoln.

In late 1902, after 56 years of service, a storm had penetrated the clock tower and rusted the works, and City Council objecting to big bills for its care, wanted to discontinue the Town Clock as a Salem institution.

But Mayor Robert Gwynne, editor of the Sunbeam, waged a successful campaign for funds to buy a new clock.  The sum of $1,000 was secured plus $200 donated by Mayor Gwynne for dials.

Seth Thomas Company, of Thomaston, Connecticut, made the new clock on specifications furnished by Mr. Wheeler.  It weighed about 2,000 pounds exclusive of an eight-foot pendulum rod that weighed 175 pounds and the old bell, which tipped the scales at 1,535 pounds.

The dials were five feet in diameter of white ground plate glass, made in sections in such a manner as to withstand storms.  The numerals were of black iron and formed part of the sectional iron frames.  A small dial inside the tower registered exactly the same as the hands on the main dials and was used to set the clock accurately.

This timepiece was wound for the first time by Mr. Oscar O. Smith on October 4, 1903.  Illumination of the face was introduced at that time with the Salem Electric Company furnishing one 50-candle power light behind each of the four dials increasing value of the clock as a guide to mariners.  For a period of time during World War II, illumination was discontinued to conform with blackout regulations.

At 9:45 a. m. on Wednesday, January 22, 1947 it was discovered that the clock tower was on fire.  The Salem Fire Department, under direction of Fire Chief Smith, the clock's faithful "physician", was on the job immediately, battling the flames in freezing winds, but the old timepiece was doomed.  It struck ten as smoke billowed over its four faces, which registered perfect time until 10:22, when they caved in almost simultaneously.

By January 30 certificates had been printed for sale in order to raise the needed funds to replace the clock.  A new clock was purchased with funds raised from the congregation and city residents.  It was built by E. Howard & Co. of Boston, Massachusetts.  The bell, which had fallen from its mount to the bottom of the steeple, was recast and remounted in 1948.  This was the bell’s third casting.  The new clock and recast bell struck for the first time at 11:00 a.m. on April 15, 1948.  This clock has faithfully served the community ever since.

Due to the continued and increasing cost of maintaining the clock and steeple, and considerations regarding the separation of church and state, Salem City Council has relinquished its authority and responsibility regarding the maintenance of the clock and the surrounding structure, thus making the change they had sought in 1902.  The cost for the needed maintenance to the clock and repairs to the steeple and bell assembly have been left solely with the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Salem.  We desire to see this part of Salem City’s history preserved and so, as with every stage of the clock’s life, we seek the help of the community around us so that Salem might have a working Town Clock.

Donations may be made to: The Salem Old Town Clock and Steeple Fund, and sent c/o First Baptist Church to P.O. Box 75, Salem, NJ 08079.  For more information please call: (856)935-0531.