The Story of Eastman Clock Plaza in Downtown Cranford

Crafted by Gabe Bailer, PP, AICP

Every public space holds a story—how it was created, designed, its intended purpose, and its role within the community. This is the story of Eastman Clock Plaza, commonly known as "The Clock," located in the heart of Downtown Cranford.

To understand the history of Eastman Clock Plaza, we must first look at the history of Downtown Cranford and the structures and layouts that remain today. The development of Cranford’s downtown can be traced back to one pivotal event: the arrival of the railroad. In the mid-1850s, the Central Railroad of New Jersey constructed a line through Cranford, connecting the town to Newark and New York City. This new transportation link became the driving force behind the growth of Downtown Cranford.

How does the growth of downtown Cranford lay the foundation for Eastman Clock Plaza? Fortunately, a wealth of resources exists to help uncover this history. In the 2000s, Princeton University undertook a significant project to offer insights into the historical built environment of various municipalities by digitizing historical Sanborn maps across New Jersey.

What is a Sanborn map? Produced by the Sanborn Map Company, these maps provide detailed information about a building's footprint and usage. Originally created for fire insurance purposes, their production declined as insurance companies stopped using them in the 1960s, with the last maps produced in 1977. Fortunately for historical urban geographers like myself, Princeton University digitized Sanborn maps for Downtown Cranford from 1893, 1903, 1908, 1915, and 1922.

In addition to these maps, I reached out to Bernie Wagenblast, where she provided me with several historical photos of the area where Eastman Clock Plaza stands today. I also posted on the Cranford Talks Facebook page, asking if anyone had historical images of the plaza, and Captain Joseph Van Bergen of Cranford’s Police Department shared several valuable pictures. Lastly, I submitted an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request to the Downtown Management Corporation (also known as Downtown Cranford), and they provided me with a document that I will discuss later.

Sanborn Map Research
Let’s explore what was historically located at the site of Eastman Clock Plaza according to the Sanborn maps. Downtown Cranford was divided by the train line, with Union Avenue ending at the train station in both directions. In 1893, there were only scattered buildings in the downtown area, but the early development of Cranford’s building footprint was already underway. Notably, the Cranford Opera House stood on North Avenue—a cultural landmark designed by prominent Cranford architect Frank Lent in 1892. It hosted musical performances, operas, and public events, making it a vibrant center of the community. Unfortunately, the Opera House burned down in 1912, but it was later replaced by the Cranford Trust building, which still stands in downtown today.

As for the area where Eastman Clock Plaza is now located, the Sanborn maps show it as vacant, with no structures present at the time.

Let's take a look at the 1898 Sanborn map. At that time, there was a building situated in what is now Eastman Clock Plaza. The Sanborn maps are incredibly detailed, even indicating the specific functions of buildings. In 1898, this particular building housed a printing company. According to Captain Van Bergen, the structure is commonly referred to as the Potter Building or the Chronicle Building.

In 1903, the building known as the Potter or Chronicle Building was still present, and it housed five different businesses: a printing company, an office, a Chinese laundry, a hardware store, and a tailor. Interestingly, the map also included the label "Assembly Hall" under the building, though its meaning is unclear. By 1908, the businesses had changed slightly, with the building now home to a cigar shop, printing company, tailor, hardware store (specializing in paints and oils), and a Chinese laundry. As with the previous map, "Assembly Hall" was mentioned again, along with a new note, "to be offices."

In 1915, the building continued to have five uses, including abbreviations "Gro" and "Staty." After consulting a resource from MIT on Sanborn map acronyms, it became clear that "Gro" stood for grocery and "Staty" for stationery. Notably, one of the stationery businesses also had an electric printing function, which may explain the building’s association with the name "Chronicle Building," likely due to the printing of publications. By 1922, the building still housed five businesses, but now one was listed as "Fruit" and another as "Meat," which makes it easy to deduce there were both a fruit and a meat shop in the building.

Historical Picture Research

Now, let's dive into historical photographs to explore the story of Eastman Clock Plaza. I’d like to extend my gratitude to Bernie Wagenblast and Captain Joseph Van Bergen of the Cranford Police Department for their invaluable historical research and for providing the images that allow us to delve into the rich history of Eastman Clock Plaza.

The first photo, taken in 1891, captures a flag-raising event. The flag's location is roughly where Eastman Clock Plaza stands today. This image dates back to a time before motor vehicles became widespread and transformed both urban and suburban landscapes.

The next photo, from 1924, shows how the rise of motor vehicles reshaped Downtown Cranford. The image is taken from approximately where Track 5 is today, offering a view of the Cranford Trust Building along North Avenue, with cars parked along North Avenue and Eastman Street. Interestingly, the area where Eastman Clock Plaza now stands is an undeveloped green space at this time.

Fast forward to the 1940s, and that green space has evolved. It’s now separated by curbing, and the parking spots on North Avenue are angled—much like they are today. The same angled layout is also seen for parking on Eastman Street. This marks the early transformation of the Eastman Clock Plaza area into a parking lot.

The next photo, from around the 1970s, shows that the parking layout remains the same as it was in the 1940s. However, by the 1970s, two benches and some greenery had been added. Despite these small changes, the area that is now Eastman Clock Plaza continued to serve as a parking lot, remaining largely unchanged until the developments described below.

Formation of the Special Improvement District - Wallace Todd Roberts

In 1985, Cranford established its Special Improvement District (SID). A SID is a public-private partnership between property owners and the municipality, designed to promote economic revitalization, attract investment, and fund improvements within a designated area. Property owners within the SID pay a special tax to support these services, which include staffing, promotions, and enhancements. Cranford's SID was formed under the name Downtown Management Corporation (DMC), though it’s more commonly known as Downtown Cranford. The SID covers the downtown area, easily recognized by its Victorian-style light poles. There's no question that Downtown Cranford has been a success, driving economic growth, supporting local businesses, hosting events, and improving the area with landscaping, beautification efforts, and maintenance.

In July 1985, Downtown Cranford recognized the need for direction and guidance on streetscape and façade improvements, so they enlisted the planning and architecture firm Wallace, Todd, and Roberts. This collaboration resulted in a design manual that outlined a comprehensive plan for enhancing Downtown Cranford’s streetscape. The manual detailed key elements such as paver designs, street landscaping, sidewalk bump-outs, and street furniture. It also laid the groundwork for the transformation of Eastman Clock Plaza—from a parking lot and lifeless space in the heart of downtown—into a vibrant public area with landscaping and seating, which is the focus of this article.

With the design foundation set, the next step was implementation. Over the course of six years, Downtown Cranford not only designed but also, crucially, raised the necessary funds to transform the parking lot into a vibrant public space. During this period, a design was finalized that would create a lasting landmark for Eastman Plaza. At the heart of the new space would be a Victorian Clock, generously donated by Martin Jewelers with support from Rolex. After making final adjustments to the design and establishing the Victorian Clock as the centerpiece, construction began and was completed in 1991, bringing the vision for Eastman Plaza to life

Opening of Eastman Clock - 1991

In 1991, Eastman Plaza—now known as Eastman Clock Plaza—became a reality and quickly transformed into a vibrant public space at the heart of Downtown Cranford. A plaque was installed in the plaza to honor those who contributed to making Eastman Clock Plaza possible. The plaque features an memorable quote: “When many minds think as one, all things become possible.”

What is Eastman Clock Plaza?

So, what is Eastman Clock Plaza? It’s the result of a community's vision brought to life through thoughtful planning, design, fundraising, business contributions, and leadership from Downtown Cranford, local officials, and business leaders. Together, they transformed a lifeless parking lot—once an asphalt jungle—into a vibrant public space that serves as the central gathering spot and the heart of Downtown Cranford.

Eastman Clock or the “Clock” is a vibrant public space where you can enjoy coffee from Track 5 or ice cream from Vanilla Bean. It’s a place to sit and relax on the blue stone steps or benches, to people-watch as visitors come and go through Downtown Cranford. It’s a landmark, a common meeting spot and often the starting point for many of Downtown Cranford's events. In 2022, bike racks were added, making it an even more inviting destination for walkers and cyclists. It’s a place to enjoy live music and soak in the sounds of Cranford. Most importantly, Eastman Clock Plaza is a space for the community—a true centerpiece of downtown. So, next time you're there, take a moment to thank those listed on the plaque, acknowledge Martin Jewelers' contribution, and remember the inspiring words: “When many minds think as one, all things are possible.”