By ANN BOWDEN

For more than 60 years, a large old-fashioned clock has graced the Greenwood neighborhood with its presence, standing proudly on the sidewalk on N. 85th Street, one block west of Greenwood Avenue.

The clock has been a part of the neighborhood since Roy Davidsen, a watchmaker who owned Greenwood Jewelers until he died in 1998, bought it from a jeweler in the University District in 1940.

While no one is sure of its exact age, the clock is believed to have come to Seattle from Boston.

Davidson originally installed the clock on Greenwood near N. 85th but in the mid-1950s he moved it again to its current location, when he bought the building and moved his store there. The clock, which was added to the historical register in 1986, was always Davidsen's pride and joy. He added his name and that of the store to its face and wrapped the face in neon, until the City decided the neon interfered with the traffic lights.

During his lifetime, Davidsen faithfully kept the clock in good working order, winding it religiously every Thursday.

Since his death, however, the clock has lost some of its luster. Its wooden frame is rotting in places, the paint is peeling and it's no longer keeping time. Prior to his death, Davidsen had already begun making plans for the clock. It had been his hope that a nephew in Montana would take over the jewelry business but that didn't happen. The nephew did inherit the clock, however, but has agreed, along with other family members, to leave it in the Greenwood neighborhood.

Even before Davidsen died, the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce had begun working on a plan to move the clock to a more central location on Greenwood Avenue.

Candace Barroga, a long-time friend of Davidsen's, has spearheaded the effort to refurbish and relocate the clock since at least 1994. Since then, several locations have been considered and rejected for a variety of reasons.

Most recently, plans call for moving the clock to Greenwood Avenue and N. 79th, in front of the Greenwood Masonic Lodge - if the City landmarks board approves the move. The Masons have agreed to take responsibility for the clock; they plan to restore it to its former glory and, most importantly, will keep it wound every week.

Barroga sees that as the perfect location. The Lodge has been in Greenwood since 1924 and is "rich in history," she notes. Coincidentally, Davidsen was a Mason. And his nephew, Richard, is also a Mason and was, at one time, a member of the Greenwood Lodge. Richard's mentor, who grew up in Greenwood, is still a member of the Lodge.

Barroga and Jim Lumsden, the Lodge's chaplain and custodian, have been working hard trying to get permits and funding to make their dream a reality, but could use some help. They still need to get permission to move the clock from the Landmarks Board and will also be applying for a Small and Simple Grant from the City's Department of Neighborhoods. Lodge members have agreed to handle the physical work of the move but Barroga is looking for help with the grant application process and locating photos and documents she'll need for the Landmarks hearing.

Barroga feels "blessed" for having known Davidsen and "heard his stories of the neighborhood" and would like to return that blessing by ensuring the clock remains in the neighborhood and in good condition.

"Greenwood needs that clock," she says. "There's such rich history in this area. It's time to appreciate our history; to recognize the journey."

Anyone interested in helping with the Greenwood clock project can contact Candace at 235-6166.

Ann Bowden is development director of the Phinney Neighborhood Association.