History of Clock Towers in Prescott

History of Clock Towers in Prescott. . 1887 With Prescott growing rapidly the first modern brick school is built on Elm Street. A local teacher, Roxanne Bailey, donates the money to purchase the first tower clock in Prescott; it is installed on top of the new school. , 1924 With more classrooms needed, a new addition is added to the south side of the 1887 school. , 1935 On December 8th the Prescott School burns to the ground. Despite the combined efforts of the Prescott and Hastings fire departments, the fire is too intense to save the 1887 school; efforts are focused on saving the 1924 addition. At 3:00 am, shrouded in smoke and flames, the bell rings for the last time. At 3:20 am the clock and bell fall into the ruins of the school. After keeping time faithfully for 48 years, the first tower clock in Prescott is destroyed. , 1937 The clock and bell are sorely missed by the people of Prescott. Although mechanical clocks are no longer in fashion, the community wants a clock identical to the one destroyed in the fire. A local fundraiser collects $2,100 to purchase a new clock and bell. The 1924 addition is repaired and a new building is constructed on the site of the destroyed 1887 school. A steel clock tower is erected over the main entrance., 1965 After keeping time for over 25 years, the plywood faces begin to deteriorate and the clock no longer runs consistently. , 1977 The Prescott Bicentennial Committee finances repairs of the clock and tower, but due to water leakage into the tower, repairs are temporary. By the 1980's the clock stops functioning completely. The bell and hammer are removed due to weight restrictions on the school roof. , 2003 With the clock silent for over 15 years and the steel tower frame deteriorating, the tower and clockworks are removed from the school. The clock and bell are donated to the Prescott Historical Society. Restoration begins on the Seth Thomas clock in the fall., 2004 The Seth Thomas clock is fully restored and functional. The Prescott Historical Society begins fundraising to construct this tower., Our Seth Thomas Tower Clock. The Prescott clock was built in 1937 by the Seth Thomas Company of Connecticut. This was the second Seth Thomas tower clock installed in Prescott - the first clock was destroyed in the 1935 fire. The last mechanical clock of this style built by Seth Thomas was number 3232; ours is number 3176. Seth Thomas produced only 56 more clocks of this style before World War II halted production and ended the era of large mechanical tower clocks., Bell Park. There are two bells in Bell Park; both were cast by the McShane Bell Foundry of Baltimore, Maryland. The bells are identical in shape and markings, but differ greatly in size and casting date. The large bell mounted at ground level weighs 3,500 pounds. It was cast in 1878 and brought by steamboat to Prescott for the Methodist Church. Its "little brother" is mounted 40 feet above you in the clock tower. It weighs 350 pounds, was cast in 1937 and delivered to Prescott by train for the school clock tower., Prescott Clock Tower , Constructed for the City of Prescott in 2006 by , The Prescott Area Historical Society, Thanks to the following companies, organizations, and all the , residents of Prescott for their support on this project, Founders , Prescott Foundation , Cedar Corporation, Clock Tower Architect and Engineer , Friends of the Clock Tower, Time Keepers , Annmarie Foundation . Phillips Plastic Corporation . Baard and Diane Webster . Bailey and Malaby . First National Bank . River Falls/Prescott, Bell Ringers , Sue and Randy Hendrickson . Cernohous Chevrolet, Ralph and Joan Murphy Family . Randall and Susan Most, Most Pharmacy . Prescott High School Alumnus . Prescott Journal, Gary Rawn, Publisher . Prescott Insurance, Car Magee, Owner . Prescott Area Historical Society . Mavis and Gary Melstrom, Croix Insurance . Ptacek’s IGA Grocery, Jan and Mike Ptacek . Rock’n on the River Committee . Jerome, Deborah, Jennifer and Susanna Voje . Stagecoach Express, Mary Paul . KDWA 1460 AM, Dan and Barb Massman . Michael J. Toninato, D.D.S., Family Practice Dentistry . Helmer Printing, The Shopper . Twin City Brick, Dick Degrood . Stagecoach Diesel Motorsports, Gary Ries . Spot Design, Patricia Voje . William E. Voje, Tower Clock Machinist . Prescott Welcome and Heritage Center . Sally West, Volunteer, Supporters , Don Eggers Family . Franz and Karen Altpeter . Lorraine and Bob Garber . Berg’s Rock Shop, Bob and Jan Berg . Great Rivers Printing, established 1998 . Johnson Construction, Inc., D.L. Johnson Family . M and I Bank, Prescott . River Falls Ace Hardware, Bernie and Christina McCellan . Minnesota Clockmakers Guild . River Road Auto, Keven and Rachel Bowes . No Name Saloon and Pronto Insulation, Paula and Walt Weisbec . Price Rite Liquors, Mike Simones . St. Croix Interiors, Joe and Tracy Franek . The Computer Guys, Inc., Serving Prescott Since 1998 . Tom’s TV, Tom and Barb Thoen . Centurytel, Inc. . Kris Sampson and Family . Prescott Rent-all . Slipp Inn Grill, Matt and Keri Simones . Vandeberg Machine Shop, Darrell and Betty Vandeberg . Muddy Waters Bar and Grill, Patti and Steve, Construction Contractors , Johnson Construction, Inc. , Glenbrook Lumber and Supply, Manager Jason Kirchner . Prescott Electric and Heating, Inc., Owner Michael C. Bjurquist . Roosen Construction, Mike Roosen . E.R. Berwald Roofing, Our gratitude to Jerome Voje for his hard work and dedication to the tower project , including clock restoration, tower design and installation of our historic clock, In remembrance of Roxanne Bailey , The Prescott school teacher who purchased the first tower clock , for Prescott in 1887.