Edwardsville in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Edwardsville National Bank Clock
Photographed by Mike Camero, December 1, 2011
1. Marker on Edwardsville National Bank Clock Tower
First erected in 1923 at the corner of St. Louis Street and North Main Street
Through funds raised by public donations, the clock was relocated in this Clock Tower park and presented to the City of Edwardsville in gratitude for its commitment to historic preservation
Time capsule to be opened in 2023
Iron fence, cast in Highland Illinois, originally located at Old Madison County Jail 1870-1982
Erected 1998 by Edwardsville Historic Preservation Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Time Capsules series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.
Location. 38° 48.831′ N, 89° 57.499′ W. Marker is in Edwardsville, Illinois, in Madison County. It is on North Main Street (Illinois Route 143) 0.1 miles north of Hillsboro Avenue, on the right when traveling north. The clock tower is located in front of the parking lot between Laurie's Place and Edwardsville Frozen Food. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 228 N Main St, Edwardsville IL 62025, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of Abraham Lincoln's Speech (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Edwardsville
this page online
Also see . . . Edwardsville Clock Tower Rededication. A rededication of the Edwardsville Clock Tower was held on October 7, 2023, and the time capsule from 1998 was opened and the contents revealed during the event.
The Citys Historic Preservation Commission in May 2023 rededicated the Edwardsville Clock Tower -- 25 years after it was built to help an iconic piece of City history stand the test of time. The Clock Tower Rededication also celebrated a more momentous milestone: the 100th anniversary since the historic Edwardsville National Bank Clock, which hangs at the tower, was first erected in the City.(Submitted on August 11, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)
The event took place at the site of the Clock Tower, in front of the public parking lot in the 200 block of North Main Street. A time capsule that was embedded in the tower when itwas built in 1998 was opened and the contents were revealed during the event. And now it's time to seal a new time capsule into the base of the tower. The new time capsule won't be opened until 25 years from now, in 2048.Photographed by Mike Camero, December 1, 20112. Edwardsville National Bank Clock Marker
The public is invited to share their insights into life in Edwardsville in 2023 to offer a glimpse of today's world to those who open the time capsule in 2048. Index cards and drop boxes are available at City Hall, 118 Hillsboro Avenue, and the Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas Street, through Sunday, October 1.
Clock tower baseThe clock was a fixture on the Edwardsville National Bank Building at St. Louis and North Main streets for nearly 70 years. It was purchased for the newly constructed building that rose five stories into the downtown Edwardsville skyline in 1923. The clock weighs approximately a ton, and spans 8 feet in height and about 4 feet in width. When the Edwardsville National Bank Building was razed in 1990, the clock disappeared into storage, and could have been lost forever, but for the efforts of a dedicated group of history buffs and preservationists.
In 1996, a local businessman happened upon the clock where it was being stored, and turned it over to the Historic Preservation Commission, which had been established in 1977 to help maintain the Citys historic character, particularly its architecture.A huge fundraising effort ensued, with residents, the City, businesses and even a state grant ultimately adding to the collection to build the tower. Along with that, a time capsule campaign kicked off to collect memorabilia, personal messages from residents and other items that were sealed into the tower when it was dedicated in October 1998. A bronze plaque on the tower indicated that it would be opened in 2023.Photographed by Mike Camero, December 1, 20113. Edwardsville National Bank Clock Tower
A new time capsule will be created and sealed in the tower later this year. Just like 25 years ago, the array of contents wont be revealed until its reopened. The Historic Preservation Commission will install a new plaque to designate the next rededication, scheduled for sometime in 2048.
Photographed by Mike Camero, December 1, 2011
4. Edwardsville National Bank Building
Directors
Charles Boeschenstein, President
E.C.Bardelmeiel William C. Kriege
R.S. Barnsback Joseph M. Pyle
E.L. Burroughs B.H. Richards, Jr.
E.A.Fresen Frank Troeckler
John A. Fruit D.G. Williamson
Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2012, by Mike Camero of Edwardsville, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,224 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 14, 2012, by Mike Camero of Edwardsville, Illinois. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
