Unique Clock Donated to SCV Historical Society

A day of volunteering led to a unique donation recently, when Bob Haddock saw the stonemason tools and chest belonging to Acton rancher George Blum at the SCV Historical Society. His grandfather had homesteaded near the Blum Ranch in Acton and Bob knew there was an item in his garage that needed a new home. The next time he came to volunteer, he came bearing the gift of the antique clock from the Soledad School for the growing museum’s collection.
Haddock’s father was a student at Soledad School in Acton in the 1930s. The school, an imposing red brick structure, was located in the heart of Acton, at the end of Cory Avenue. Built in the late 1880s and dedicated in 1890, the school served the farming community until the student population outgrew the building and a Works Progress Administration crew built the Acton School in 1938. Soledad School was abandoned in 1937 and the Haddock family obtained the school clock, a Regulator with an intricately carved wood housing.
“Dad kept this in Acton, in storage,” Haddock explained as he presented the clock to Society Vice President Leon Worden. “He went over when they shut down the school and he walked away with it.” He said that the clock had recently been stored in their family garage in Saugus, but his wife advised it was time to get rid of it.
The clock needs a pendulum and keys, but otherwise looks to be in good working condition. Haddock also donated copies of historic pictures from the Acton area for the archives.
Bob Haddock said his grandparents homesteaded next to Blum Ranch and the family has been local since then. His father attended San Fernando High School and Bob attended Newhall School in the 1950s. His grandchildren attend Saugus High School.
Bob and his wife, Roberta have been volunteers at local events such as the City’s Cowboy Festival for several years. Recently, Bob found himself at the Saugus Train Station and signed on to become a volunteer on the archiving/inventory project currently underway.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer and helping with this project, contact Archivist Eva Gritz at egritz@scvhistory.com.