Somers Eagle Scout Tracks Hours With Sun Clock

SOMERS, N.Y. – John Ferretti has just become the 26th Boy Scout in the history of Somers Troop 376 to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Only about 5 percent of all the country’s Boy Scouts achieve this highest standing. 

Ferretti did it by constructing a giant sun clock, a 20-foot semi-circular structure with 25 handmade numbered pavers representing the daylight hours. The time is shown by standing on a marker representing the current month. The shadow cast points to the hour paver. The clock is on the campus of the Somers Intermediate School (SIS) and can even be found on Google Maps.

“When I was younger we took a family trip to a science museum that had a sundial in the back patio. It blew my mind,” said Ferretti, a senior at Somers High School. “When I looked online, I discovered people were making them all over. A guy in the U.K. could supply you with plans, depending on your longitude and latitude.”

Ferretti wanted to site his clock at SIS because the clock can be used as a teaching tool, he said.

“I had to get permission from a lot of different people, including Mr. Griffiths, the SIS principal,” said Ferretti. With the help of fellow troop members, he began his project in October 2010 and finished in August 2011. Ferretti held a pasta night to raise funds for the project, which cost around $920 in total.

The Somers Sun Clock and Ferretti’s achievement were celebrated at a ceremony at the Lincolndale Clubhouse, attended by family, friends, troop members, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy and Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, who presented the award.

“Word’s getting around about the clock,” Ferretti said. “I visit the site every so often. A lot of people go there now.” 

Somers Intermediate School is at 240 Route 202, Somers. The clock is behind the school building. To find out what time it is, remember to go when the sun is shining.

 

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