A new clock that displays the time and temperature now graces downtown Palmerton.

The clock was installed recently at Palmerton Pharmacy, 330 Delaware Ave., said Joe Bennett, property owner. Bennett said the clock was purchased from Reed Signs and cost $8,500.

“I never thought I’d have to buy a new clock,” Bennett said. “With the supply chain, it took a long time for it to arrive, but it’s a good investment for the town.”

Bennett said he’s glad to see the location have a clock that is fully operational.

“We wanted to bring attention to our wonderful tenants, which is Palmerton Pharmacy, and People First Credit Union, which will be opening shortly,” he said. “It draws your attention; now no spouse will have any excuse for not knowing what time it is on the way home.”

The clock that had been located at Palmerton Pharmacy had been out of commission since May.

Bennett said that the bulbs were burning out because the unit itself had varying currents going through it.

After nearly seven years of inactivity, the clock was fully operational.

Previously, the property had been the former BB & T Bank, which closed its branch office on July 20, 2021.

There had been metal plates over the time/temp, before the clock once again became fully operational.

Bennett previously said that the light bulbs are $10 apiece, and that there are 245 bulbs in the sign, an expense of nearly $2,500.

Resident Ruth Kindrew, who in 2016 started a petition on Change.org to the former BB & T Bank to save the clock, said at that time she was thrilled to hear the clock was being restored.

Kindrew started the petition after citing that the clock has been a part of the downtown for decades, and that many who come and go through town look to the clock for the right time and to see the temperature.

Bruce Maysmith, one of the petition signers at that time, said then he believed that the original time and temp was installed around the time his dad was hired at the former Palmerton Savings and Loan in 1968.

Maysmith said it was updated when the former Keystone Savings bought them out around 1973.