A Part of Oklahoma History

His older brother, J.F., had purchased a jewelry store in Abilene, Texas, and B.C. decided to move there and work for him. There he immersed himself into the business and learned all about the jewelry and watch repair trade.

Hearing stories of people “making their fortune” in an area to the north known as Indian Territory, B.C. began dreaming of opening his jewelry store in this exciting new land. He saved up some money, and in 1892, at the age of 23, he bid his brother farewell. Carrying his life savings of $50, his watchmaker’s bench, and a few other personal belongings, he boarded a train headed north. Simply because he was fascinated with the sound of its name, B.C. decided that Chickasha, Indian Territory, was where he was going to make his fortune.

He never made it that far.

On his way to Chickasha, the train stopped in Purcell, Indian Territory. From there, B.C. would need to take another train on to Chickasha. However, when he reached for his fifty dollars, he discovered that his wallet was missing. Not only had his travel plans come to a halt, but B.C. no longer had any seed money to build his home or his fortune.

Penniless, but determined, he began wandering around Purcell and as luck would have it, ran into a gentleman he had known in Abilene who was now operating a “racket” store, what we know today as the “five-and-dime.” As a favor to young B.C., the gentleman allowed him to set up his watchmaker’s bench and small display case in one corner of the store.

In 1892, the very first BC Clark Jewelers store was opened in Purcell, Indian Territory, with a shingle that boldly proclaimed, “B.C. Clark, the Big Watch Jeweler.”

One bright spot, however, was a young woman named Flora Edwards, who ran Purcell’s post office. Out of their initial meeting, when Flora loaned B.C. a dollar and a stamp, blossomed a friendship that led to a two-year courtship. In 1894, they were married.

Eventually, the business grew, and B.C. moved into his own store. One key to the early success of BC Clark Jewelers was the repair and inspection of watches for railroad employees.

Purcell was a division point for the Santa Fe Railroad. Locomotives from the North Division (between Chicago and Purcell) and the South Division (between Galveston and Purcell) would end their runs at Purcell, turn around on a turntable, and head back the same way they had arrived. Proper timekeeping was critical during these times, and the railroads required that all company watches be inspected every 15 days.

BC Clark’s expertise at watch repair soon became known among the railroad workers.

During the economic panic of 1913, B.C. worried that his jewelry and watch business wouldn’t be enough to sustain his growing family, which now numbered himself, wife Flora, and six children. He decided to offer other sideline merchandise to keep his store’s traffic consistent. Therefore, in addition to the jewelry line, BC Clark Jewelers also sold phonographs, player pianos, the first General Electric refrigerators in the county, and the first Atwater Kent radios.

As if this weren’t enough, B.C. also operated a car agency in Purcell where numerous automobiles, including the sporty Apperson Jack Rabbit and even a fire truck, were sold. In everything BC Clark sold, the quality was of the utmost priority. All items offered for sale under the BC Clark banner were top of the line, including the jewelry and watch selection, which remain the flagship products offered by our company to this day.

The Great Depression

After the stock market crash in October of 1929, several Oklahoma businesses were forced to close their doors, but throughout the Depression, BC Clark Jewelers remained solvent.

B.C. had no outstanding debt, which helped enormously in weathering the economic storm, but his keen business mind also greatly contributed to the store’s success during those lean times.

BC made a deal with a manufacturer to make railroad inspector’s watches with the serial numbers already imprinted on the inside of the watch. Usually, the serial numbers were assigned and written on a piece of paper that was placed inside the watch. Because the numbers had to be assigned in order, they had to print them ahead of time, and because newer numbers were the better numbers to have, the watches with “B.C. Clark Jewelers” on the face were in high demand.

As an added incentive, railroad personnel who purchased their watches from BC Clark could have the payments withdrawn directly from their pay, and then the railroad company would send the lump-sum payments to B.C. Clark.

It was smart thinking like this that assured B.C. a thriving business in the middle of the worst depression the country has suffered.

Continuing the Tradition

Benton Clyde Clark remained actively involved in the business until his death in 1963 at the age of 94.

The company continued to grow under the second-generation leadership of B.C. Clark, Jr. with the addition of two suburban Oklahoma City locations. B.C., Jr. remained actively involved in the business until the age of 91. He passed away February 4, 2015, at the age of 101.

Carrying on the Legacy

Today, the third and fourth generation carries on the tradition of service started by B.C. Clark over 125 years ago with three locations in Oklahoma City, and over 80 loyal employees. From the wild days of the Indian Territory to the exciting time of statehood, and every decade since, many things have changed during the last century. But the legacy of superior products coupled with personalized customer service pioneered by B.C. Clark in 1892 hasn’t changed.

We are proud of our Oklahoma heritage and stand ready to continue serving the needs of our community for the next century and beyond.