New display at the New York State Museum illuminates a forgotten industry
Abner Jones, Bloomfield, N.Y., ca. 1834.
ALBANY, NY.—
The New York State Museum announced the donation of a significant clock collection from historian and author G. Russell Oechsle. Featuring more than 80 rare clocks made in upstate New York between 1818 and 1927—with a strong concentration from the 1820s and 1830s—the collection offers a vivid window into a once-thriving regional industry shaped by the opening of the Erie Canal.
Now on view, the exhibition highlights selections from the donation, capturing the entrepreneurial spirit that fueled clockmaking workshops along the canal corridors. Some shops lasted only a few years; others prospered for decades. Together, these clocks showcase exceptional craftsmanship and reveal the social and economic forces that transformed communities across New York State.
Among the exhibition highlights are a striking 1834 shelf clock by Abner Jones of Bloomfield, N.Y., with a stenciled column case and three-drawer base, and a Baird 1 Advertising Clock, produced in Plattsburgh between 1890 and 1896 for the Diamond Black Leather Oil Co. of Cleveland, featuring an 8-day brass movement. These objects—along with others in the collection—exemplify the ingenuity and artistry of a forgotten regional industry.
Oechsle and his wife Janet began collecting clocks in the mid-1970s, ultimately assembling the largest known collection of upstate New York clocks, representing the work of 62 different makers. The Museum’s display showcases a portion of this extraordinary gift, allowing visitors to experience firsthand the diversity and beauty of these historic timepieces.
Dr. Jennifer Lemak, Chief Curator of History, said, “This collection sheds light on an often-overlooked industry that was deeply influenced by the Erie Canal. The canal system reshaped how creators shared their work, and we’re grateful to Russ and Janet for entrusting us with this remarkable collection. It will serve as a valuable resource for researchers and history enthusiasts alike.”
G. Russell Oechsle said, “I’m thrilled to see these clocks where they belong—on public display and at the New York State Museum where they can be researched and preserved for future generations. As a collector, I believe you never truly ‘own’ an object, and instead, serve as a temporary caretaker. My hope has always been to keep the collection together, and I am honored the Museum recognizes its significance in telling New York State’s diverse history.”
