SE Minnesota News

The Bring Back the Clock Tower Board of Directors and the Rochester Fire Department (RFD) encourages the community to join them for the groundbreaking event at 3:30 p.m. on May 16, 2023 at Fire Station 1, located at 521 Broadway Avenue S.  This gathering will kick-off important activities needed to restore and reinstall the clock tower near the original location.  The tower’s design will be similar to the first fire station’s clock tower to honor Rochester’s history as well as past, present, and future firefighters. Other project partners include BKV Group and Krause-Anderson.  The project has important funding support from late community member Alan Calavano.

"Alan Calavano, Mr. Rochester Historian, had a mission that the original Seth Thomas clock would once again hang in a tower close to its original location on South Broadway. It became his dying wish that the clock, re-discovered due to the determination of the late Fire Chief Ollie Mertz, be restored as an iconic gateway landmark to Rochester. He donated $100,000 as part of the effort to preserve the past for present and future generations, with the belief that the community would again rise to the challenge in bringing back the clock tower," shares Bari Amadio, Secretary of the Board of Directors and Executor of the Calavano Estate. 

The tower was first erected with its bell in 1898 with the Central Fire Station and was one of the most recognizable city monuments. In 1899 the iconic clock face and clock works were installed after being entirely financed by community fundraising.  It dutifully served the community by alerting firefighters to emergencies until 1930, when the fire station was demolished to make way for city expansion.  It emerged from storage in the 1980’s and has been in three different locations since the 1930’s, with a desire for it to find a permanent home at Fire Station 1.

Fire Chief Eric Kerska highlights, “We are very thankful for Mr. Calavano’s generosity and hope to see this piece of Rochester history installed for generations to come.  As the Bring Back the Clock Tower group highlights, every dollar makes a difference!”

Community members and businesses have an opportunity to support the project through the purchase of a paver, level recognition on the plaque wall and cash donations. Bring Back the Clock Tower is a 501 c 3 nonprofit and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent provided by the law.  For more information about the Rochester Clock Tower, or to give a donation, visit RochClockTower.org. 

Original source can be found here.