Falling Back in Time — and Looking Up at Our Clocks
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
Daylight Saving Time officially ends on Sunday, November 2, when we “fall back” and set our clocks one hour earlier at 2 a.m. local time. The good news? We gain an extra hour of sleep. The trade-off? Earlier sunsets, with daylight fading an hour sooner than the day before.
In a digital world, I love the clocks of Melrose!
Melrose City Hall, a landmark since 1874, has seen its share of transformations. After a devastating fire in 1937, the original top floor was removed and replaced with the familiar clock tower we see today. Decades later, in 1982, the building earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places, preserving its legacy in Melrose’s skyline.
Not far away, another timekeeper watches over Main Street—the clock at the former Melrose Bank, now TD Bank. The double-faced clock has become a small but beloved landmark for anyone walking through the downtown business district. Whether you were hurrying to catch the bus, heading to Shaw’s, or meeting a friend for coffee, that clock has quietly helped Melrosians stay on schedule. It’s one of those pieces of civic charm that ties the rhythm of the city to daily life.
And now, a new clock has joined the city’s skyline — the tower atop The Ella Building on Franklin Street in the Highlands.
Unlike the traditional City Hall or bank clocks, The Ella’s tower features a programmable LED movie screen rather than mechanical hands. Currently, it’s cycling through Halloween-themed animations — a grinning pumpkin, fluttering bats, and glowing cat eyes — on a playful 10-minute rotation.
The Ella’s name carries a touching story. The building was named for Ella, the daughter of Jacqui Webb, a close friend of developer Robert Johnson. Jacqui lost her leg in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and Ella’s birth in August 2021 became a symbol of hope and renewal — a fitting inspiration for a building that lights up the neighborhood.
From the historic hands of City Hall, to the steadfast clock outside TD Bank, to the modern digital glow of The Ella, Melrose’s clocks mark more than just the passing of hours—they tell the story of a community that honors its past while embracing the future.
