![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ferlita.com%2Falbums%2Flamp-1%2Fcontent%2Findepence-halls-clock%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Ferlita.com%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F000%2F120%2Findependence-clock%2Flarge.1603633058.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Ferlita.com%2Falbums%2Flamp-1%2Fcontent%2Findepence-halls-clock%2F" title="Independence Hall's Clock"%3EIndependence Hall's Clock%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn+1752%2C+when+Isaac+Norris+was+selecting+a+man+to+build+the+first+clock+for+the+State+House%2C+today+known+as+Independence+Hall%2C+he+chose+Thomas+Stretch%2C+the+son+of+Peter+Stretch+his+old+friend+and+fellow+council+member%2C+to+do+the+job.%0A%0AIn+1753+Stretch+erected+a+giant+clock+at+the+building%27s+west+end+that+resembled+a+tall+clock+%28grandfather+clock%29.+The+40-foot-tall+%2812+m%29+limestone+base+was+capped+with+a+14-foot+%284.3+m%29+wooden+case+surrounding+the+clock%27s+face%2C+which+was+carved+by+Samuel+Harding.+The+giant+clock+was+removed+about+1830.+The+clock%27s+dials+were+mounted+at+the+east+and+west+ends+of+the+main+building+connected+by+rods+to+the+clock+movement+in+the+middle+of+the+building.+A+new+clock+was+designed+and+installed+by+Isaiah+Lukens+in+1828.+The+Lukens+clock+ran+consecutively+for+eight+days%2C+%22with+four+copper+dials+on+each+side+that+measured+eight+feet+in+diameter+and+clockworks+that+ensured+sufficient+power+to+strike+the+four-thousand+pound+bell+made+by+John+Wilbank.%22+The+Lukens+clock+remained+in+Independence+Hall+until+1877.+%0A%0ABy+mid-1753%2C+the+clock+had+been+installed+in+the+State+House+attic%2C+but+six+years+were+to+elapse+before+Thomas+Stretch+received+any+pay+for+it.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
Independence Hall's Clock
In 1752, when Isaac Norris was selecting a man to build the first clock for the State House, today known as Independence Hall, he chose Thomas Stretch, the son of Peter Stretch his old friend and fellow council member, to do the job.
In 1753 Stretch erected a giant clock at the building's west end that resembled a tall clock (grandfather clock). The 40-foot-tall (12 m) limestone base was capped with a 14-foot (4.3 m) wooden case surrounding the clock's face, which was carved by Samuel Harding. The giant clock was removed about 1830. The clock's dials were mounted at the east and west ends of the main building connected by rods to the clock movement in the middle of the building. A new clock was designed and installed by Isaiah Lukens in 1828. The Lukens clock ran consecutively for eight days, "with four copper dials on each side that measured eight feet in diameter and clockworks that ensured sufficient power to strike the four-thousand pound bell made by John Wilbank." The Lukens clock remained in Independence Hall until 1877.
By mid-1753, the clock had been installed in the State House attic, but six years were to elapse before Thomas Stretch received any pay for it.