New Permanent Home For Rochester’s Historic Clock Tower Project

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - What was expected to be the permanent home of Rochester's historic clock tower has proven to be very temporary.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held a little over two years ago to mark the start of construction on the new clock tower at the northwest corner of South Broadway and 6th Street Southwest, next to Rochester's Fire Station 1 in downtown Rochester. Some construction has occurred at the site, but it now appears a new location has been chosen.

READ MORE: Groundbreaking Date Set For Rochester’s Historic Clock Tower

The original tower was installed in 1898 at the top of Central Fire Station, which was located approximately in the middle of what is now South Broadway. At the time, the street came to a dead end between 4th and 6th Streets, blocked by the Zumbro River. The iconic clock was installed the next year and remained a Rochester landmark until 1930, when the Central Fire Station was demolished to allow for the extension of South Broadway across the river.

History of Rochester’s Iconic Clock Tower

The clock has been displayed at several locations in Rochester over the years, most recently in front of the Mayo Civic Center until its latest expansion.

The late Alan Calavano, a well-known local historian, made it his personal mission to see the clock restored and a new tower constructed adjacent to the downtown fire station. Just before his death in 2016, Calavano donated $100,000 to help launch a communitywide fundraising effort for the project.

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The organization he helped found, Bring Back the Clock Tower, later entered into a contract with the City of Rochester and the Rochester Fire Department Relief Association to move forward with construction. That contract will be the subject of discussion at Monday's meeting of the Rochester City Council.

City Council to Reconsider Location

The agenda item says that since construction began, the city became aware of a conflict between the tower’s location and future road improvements in the area, including the new 6th Street Bridge project slated to begin next year or in 2027. Those discussions have led to a proposal to relocate the clock tower project to the opposite side of South Broadway, near Hazama Park.

The City Council is now being asked to revise the contract with the Bring Back the Clock Tower organization so the city can assume leadership in moving the project forward. The proposed agreement calls for the $185,000 raised for the project to be kept in a separate city fund to be used exclusively for the design, construction, and maintenance of the planned clock tower.

The revised contract also calls for the city to work with the Bring Back the Clock Tower group in an advisory role to finalize the project design, scope, and cost estimate. The city and the private organization would also collaborate to pursue additional funding through grants or state sources.