Colgate Plant

The Colgate Clock, located at the old Colgate-Palmolive factory in Clarksville, Indiana, is reported to be the second largest clock in the world. Its big brother is located at the site of the Colgate plant in Jersey City, NJ. It was first illuminated on November 17, 1924. The Colgate-Palmolive factory began as the Indiana Reformatory South. It opened in 1847, replacing the state prison which had opened in Jeffersonville in 1821. In 1873, female prisoners were transferred to Indianapolis, and the prison was renamed the Indiana Reformatory for Men (16-30) In 1919 a fire broke out in the prison, and the state judged the cost to restore it was too great. Instead, the state of Indiana relocated the prison in Michigan City, Indiana. In 1921 the state sold the land to William Colgate. Over the years, the building was modified, most notably by an “Art Moderne” addition to the west. The clock was originally located at the Colgate plant in Jersey City, NJ In 1924 a new, bigger clock was erected and the original was moved to this location. Notable: The Clock has a diameter of 11.5 meters (38 ft.) The clocks hands weigh over 225 Kg (500 lbs) each. Even so, due to a fine counterweight system, they are driven by a 1/80 horsepower motor. Although the Colgate plant was closed in January, 2008, 1 employee remains under contract, to service the clock as needed.