Downtown in Fairbanks in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

The Fairbanks Rotary Club Clock Tower and Carillon

65.57°N, 147.43°W

— "Service above Self" —

The Fairbanks Rotary Club Clock Tower and Carillon Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

1. The Fairbanks Rotary Club Clock Tower and Carillon Marker

Inscription.

The Fairbanks Rotary Club Clock Tower and Carillon. 65.57°N, 147.43°W. presents this Clock Tower and Carillon to the City of Fairbanks September 20, 1990 commemorating the First Fifty Years of Rotary Club Service in the Alaskan Interior 1940 - 1990, Rotary Club of Fairbanks, Alaska During the summer of 1940 a group of civic-minded men organized the Fairbanks Rotary club. It would be the third such club in the territory, following Ketchikan and Juneau. Communications were slow at that time and the club's charter, which had been issued on September 20, 1940, was not presented until January 1941. With 23 charter members the club would prosper and grow over the next 50 years to include over 150 men and women during its 50th anniversary year 1990-91. Two of the original charter members participated in the golden celebration., In those 50 years the club and its members enthusiastically pushed the growth of Fairbanks from a small, river-bound, mining community to a major educational, military, and aviation center. They were active in the movement to make Alaska a state in 1959 and to save the town from the great flood of 1967. Over the years the club encouraged the creation of three new Rotary clubs in Fairbanks, contributed time and money to many local charities. For its golden anniversary the Fairbanks Rotary Club built this clock tower and carillon in Golden Heart Plaza just across the street from the site of the old Model Cafe where those 23 Rotarians first met in 1940-41. May it stand as a symbol of the growth and permanence of this Far North community and the ideals of Rotary., Bells of Rotary. Time was......... Time is........ Time will be...... Tower thrusting, tall beside the Chena, clock and carillon remind us to remember., Four faces brave the winds of change, moving hands committed to the good that can be done, The hours strike.... Listen to the bells our Bells of Rotary.... Fifty years of fellowship, fifty years of service beyond oneself, fifty years together, reaching out to Fairbanks.... to far horizons elsewhere.... concern, compassion, kindness, love., The Bells of Rotary.... Is it true? Is it fair? Will it be of benefit to all? Will it build goodwill and better friendship?, For fifty years the code in practice here, a thousand hands and more together, the Golden Heart as one., In fifty years the place a little better than it was in 'Forty when twenty-three did pledge to serve, and serve, and serve, through Rotary., Listen to the Bells of Rotary.... The golden-throated Carillon, the Tower Clock beside the Chena.... Frustrations fade, spirits lift., Through sunny days, or rain, or snow, and long cold nights the chimes call out "there's more to do, much more...." Through Rotary. William Ransom Wood, The Golden Heart Plaza Clock Tower/Carillon was built with financial contributions from the Fairbanks Rotary Club and its members. Special acknowledgement go to those people and companies who offered their time and labor to this project, [Contributors not transcribed].

presents this Clock Tower and Carillon
to the City of Fairbanks
September 20, 1990
commemorating the First Fifty Years of
Rotary Club Service in the Alaskan Interior
1940 - 1990

Rotary Club of Fairbanks, Alaska
During the summer of 1940 a group of civic-minded men organized the Fairbanks Rotary club. It would be the third such club in the territory, following Ketchikan and Juneau. Communications were slow at that time and the club's charter, which had been issued on September 20, 1940, was not presented until January 1941. With 23 charter members the club would prosper and grow over the next 50 years to include over 150 men and women during its 50th anniversary year 1990-91. Two of the original charter members participated in the golden celebration.

In those 50 years the club and its members enthusiastically pushed the growth of Fairbanks from a small, river-bound, mining community to a major educational, military, and aviation center. They were active in the movement to make Alaska a state in 1959 and to save the town from the great flood of 1967. Over the years the club encouraged the creation

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of three new Rotary clubs in Fairbanks, contributed time and money to many local charities. For its golden anniversary the Fairbanks Rotary Club built this clock tower and carillon in Golden Heart Plaza just across the street from the site of the old Model Cafe where those 23 Rotarians first met in 1940-41. May it stand as a symbol of the growth and permanence of this Far North community and the ideals of Rotary.

Bells of Rotary
Time was.........
Time is........
Time will be......
Tower thrusting,
tall beside the Chena,
clock and carillon
remind us to remember.

Four faces brave the
winds of change,
moving hands committed
to the good that can be done

The hours strike....
Listen to the bells
our Bells of Rotary....
Fifty years of fellowship,
fifty years of service
beyond oneself,
fifty years together,
reaching out
to Fairbanks....
to far horizons elsewhere....
concern, compassion,
kindness, love.

The Bells of Rotary....
Is it true?
Is it fair?
Will it be of benefit to all?
Will it build
goodwill and better friendship?

For fifty years
the code in practice here,
a thousand hands and more
together,
the

The Fairbanks Rotary Club Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

2. The Fairbanks Rotary Club Marker

Golden Heart as one.

In fifty years
the place a little better
than it was in 'Forty
when twenty-three
did pledge to serve,
and serve, and serve,
through Rotary.

Listen to the Bells of Rotary....
The golden-throated Carillon,
the Tower Clock beside
the Chena....
Frustrations fade,
spirits lift.

Through sunny days,
or rain, or snow,
and long cold nights
the chimes call out
"there's more to do,
much more...."
Through Rotary.
William Ransom Wood

The Golden Heart Plaza Clock Tower/Carillon was
built with financial contributions from the
Fairbanks Rotary Club and its members.
Special acknowledgement go to those
people and companies who offered their time
and labor to this project

[Contributors not transcribed]

Erected by Fairbanks Rotary Club, City of Fairbanks, and Concerned Citizens and Organizations.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells, and the Rotary International series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is September 20, 1990.

Location. 64° 50.677′ N, 147° 43.139′ W.

The Bells of Rotary Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

3. The Bells of Rotary Marker

Marker is in Fairbanks, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough. It is in Downtown. It is on 1st Avenue just east of Cushman Street, on the left when traveling east. The Clock Tower and Carillon are in Golden Heart Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 516 1st Avenue, Fairbanks AK 99701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor,

in the Athabascan Region,

and in Interior Alaska.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rotary Club of Fairbanks, Alaska (here, next to this marker); Fairbanks Rotary Club Charter Members 1940-41 (here, next to this marker); A Stepstone in Time (a few steps from this marker); Four Generations on the Yukon (a few steps from this marker); USS Alaska (SSBN 732) Presentation Anchor (within shouting distance of this marker); Coal: Limitless Energy

The Fairbanks Rotary Club Clock Tower and Carillon Contributors Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

4. The Fairbanks Rotary Club Clock Tower and Carillon Contributors Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Fairbanks North Star Borough (within shouting distance of this marker); Alaska's Rich Mineral Resources (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairbanks.

The Fairbanks Rotary Club Clock Tower and Carillon and Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

5. The Fairbanks Rotary Club Clock Tower and Carillon and Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 515 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 18, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.