Alibi Clock

Updated June 11, 2025

Street Date: Georgia Street, Vallejo

## Alibi Clock, Vallejo: the four-faced landmark with a debated “alibi” backstory

Quick take: Vallejo’s Alibi Clock is a 20-foot, four-faced E. Howard sidewalk clock standing on Georgia Street in downtown Vallejo. It’s an official city landmark and one of the easiest historical sights to add to a downtown stroll. The clock’s famous name ties to a 1916 San Francisco bombing case—but local reporting shows the connection is likely lore, not literal.

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### What it is—and what’s verified

– Maker & year: Built by E. Howard of Boston in 1914 (a common maker of early 20th-century street clocks).
– Where it stood first: In front of Burnett Brothers Jewelry on Market Street, San Francisco.
– How it reached Vallejo: In 1932 the clock was brought to 320 Georgia St. (Simon’s Jewelers). After Simon’s closed in 1984, the City of Vallejo purchased the clock, moved it to 316 Georgia St., and restored it.
– Landmark status: Designated City Landmark No. 5 on September 20, 1984 (you can see the small bronze landmark plaque on the base).
– Today’s location: 316 Georgia St., Vallejo—on the north side of Georgia between Marin and Sacramento Streets. America

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### Why it’s called the “Alibi Clock” (and why historians now question that)

During the Preparedness Day bombing in San Francisco on July 22, 1916 (10 killed, ~40 injured), labor leaders Thomas J. Mooney and Warren K. Billings were convicted in highly contested trials. Decades later, both were cleared (Mooney pardoned in 1939; Billings pardoned in 1961). A famous photo taken minutes before the blast showed Mooney with a sidewalk clock in the frame—long cited as his “alibi.”

Local research published by the Vallejo Times-Herald clarifies that the clock visible in the 1916 photo was a ball-topped clock at 928 Market St., not Vallejo’s square-faced Alibi Clock. The paper also traced the square four-facer to Burnett Bros. at 938 Market (opening 1924) before it moved to Vallejo in 1932. In short: the Vallejo clock’s “alibi” name is part of the lore, not the literal clock in the photo.

> Bottom line: The clock is a real landmark with a real San Francisco connection; the exact alibi link is contested by current reporting.

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### Visiting essentials

– Address: 316 Georgia St., Vallejo, CA 94590 (downtown). America
– Cost & access: It’s outdoors on a public sidewalk—no ticket required.
– What you’ll see: A four-faced cast-iron clock with ornamental globes and a small window in the base where you can glimpse the movement. The landmark plaque sits above that window.
– Recent care: After a long stoppage, the mechanism was overhauled by Bay Area clock specialists and is wound weekly by Vallejo Public Works, which also resealed the case and returned the mechanism to its original green with pinstriping.

Photo tips: Georgia Street runs roughly east–west; soft morning or late-day light avoids glare on the glass. Step back toward the building line across the street for a full-height shot that includes the finials.

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### A short, factual timeline

– 1914: E. Howard builds the clock.
– Pre-1932: Installed at Burnett Brothers, 938 Market St., San Francisco.
– 1932: Relocated to Simon’s Jewelers, 320 Georgia St., Vallejo.
– Sept 20, 1984: Designated Vallejo City Landmark No. 5; moved to 316 Georgia St. and restored.
– Recent years: Mechanism repaired; city now maintains and winds it.

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### Pair it with nearby history

Two worthwhile stops a short walk from the clock:

– Empress Theatre (1911) – a restored downtown venue with a long local history.
– Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum – community and Navy heritage in a 1927 civic building.

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### Practical guidance

– Wayfinding: You’ll find the clock mid-block on Georgia Street between Marin & Sacramento; that detail helps when plugging directions into a maps app. America
– Respect & access: The sidewalk is a shared public space; please leave room for wheelchairs and strollers when lining up photos.

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### What the web often gets wrong (so you don’t repeat it)

– Pardon dates: Some roundups say Mooney was pardoned in 1929. That’s incorrect. Mooney was pardoned in 1939; Billings in 1961.
– Which clock appeared in the photo: The Vallejo Alibi Clock is square-faced and dates to Burnett Bros.; the ball-topped clock seen in the 1916 photo stood at 928 Market St. The “alibi” name persists, but the specific photo evidence points to a different San Francisco clock.
– Who maintains it: Older notes and even plaques mention Brown’s Jewelers; the Times-Herald reports the City of Vallejo now winds and maintains the clock.

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### Fast facts (copy-ready)

– Official name: The Alibi Clock (City Landmark No. 5) – Vallejo, California.
– Address: 316 Georgia St.; downtown block between Marin & Sacramento. America
– Height: ~20 feet.
– Maker/year: E. Howard, 1914.
– Claim to fame: Tied by name and tradition to the Preparedness Day “alibi” story; modern research suggests the photo showed another Market Street clock.

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Data checks completed; discrepancies flagged above. If you maintain an internal Vallejo hub page or downtown walking guide, this entry naturally supports contextual internal links to those resources.

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