By Jeff Kiger
Post-Bulletin
ROCHESTER, Minn. — The clock is ticking to raise $100,000 in 2017 to match a donation to help bring back a piece of Rochester’s history to downtown.
While Destination Medical Center is driving Rochester to look to the future, “It’s Time to Bring Back The Clock” is aimed at going back in time to remember its past.
A fundraising campaign, led by the Rochester Fire Dept. and the Rochester Area Foundation, is under way to finance an effort to restore Rochester’s historic clock and bell in a new downtown tower. The project is estimated to cost about $300,000.
“I think with all newness of DMC, sometimes people are concerned, and I’m one of them, that we sometimes forget about our traditions and history,” said Mayor Ardell Brede at a press conference Wednesday to discuss the project. “This clock and bell, much like the Chateau Theater, would honor our past, while being a welcoming landmark that we can all be proud of.
The plan is to build a new tower at the corner of Broadway and Sixth Street Southwest next to Rochester’s Fire Station #1 to the 118-year-old clock and bell.
That clock, made by legendary clock maker Seth Thomas, used to call firefighters to work and loudly marked the hours by the old Central Fire Station at Broadway and Fourth Street Southwest until it was de-comissioned in 1930. After being “lost” for several years, the clock and bell was installed in front of the Mayo Civic Center in 1982 at urging of local historian Alan Calavano.
Calavano, who recently died, inspired this latest push to create a new home of the clock and bell, as near to its historic spot.
Rochester Fire Chief Greg Martin says he first met Calavano when he walked into his office to pitch a plan to bring the clock to a new tower by the fire station. He said he was representing an anonymous donor who wanted to make a $100,000 donation to the project. After his death, it was revealed that the donor was actually Calavano.
The fire department and the city are now working to raise $100,000 to match the donation from Calavano’s estate by the end of 2017.
“We have to match it by Dec. 31, 2017 or else that funding will go away,” said Martin.
Martin explained Wednesday that commemorative engraved paver stones are being sold for $350 to help raise the money. Collectible “coins” with the images on the fire station and the clock tower on each side are also available for $10 each.
Since then, Martin, Calavano and others have worked to get architect plans drawn up for a new tower at the fire station, raise funding, and complete the project. While donations and purchases of the pavers and coins are available through the Rochester Area Foundation, Glynner’s Pub is supporting the effort by also selling the coins and offering a two-for-one discount to people who buy the coins.
While there is still a long way to go, the chief said the public is responding well to the call for donations.
“A citizen yesterday called to offer a $25,000 anonymous donation for the clock tower,” he said at Wednesday’s press conference. “I almost fell out of my chair.”
Just matching Calavano’s $100,000 donation won’t cover all of the costs associated with the project. Martin said it’s expected to cost an estimated $300,000 to build the new tower. The only costs paid from city coffers will be various design fees and permits. The bulk of the funds will come from donations.
Donors can contribute to the “It’s Time to Bring Back the Clock” campaign through the Rochester Area Foundation. Donations, specifying the clock tower, can be made online at www.rochesterarea.org.
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