Beale Memorial Clock Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beale Memorial Clock Tower |
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The original clock tower at the intersection of Chester Ave. and 17th St.
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| Location | Bakersfield, California |
| Built | April 4, 1904 |
| Built for | Memorial to Mary Edwards Beale |
| Demolished | 1952 |
| Rebuilt | December 13, 1964 |
| Architect | Clinton Day |
| Governing body | County of Kern |
The Beale Memorial Clock Tower is a famous clock tower in Bakersfield, California. It was a special gift to the city. A man named Truxtun Beale built it to remember his mother, Mary Edwards Beale. She was the wife of Edward Fitzgerald Beale.
Contents
The Original Clock Tower
A Special Gift to Bakersfield
The first clock tower stood in the middle of 17th Street and Chester Avenue. It was officially opened on April 4, 1904. Clinton Day, a talented architect, designed the tower. The clock inside was put together by Frank H. McConnell. Truxtun Beale got the idea for the design from a clock tower he saw in Spain. He was the U.S. ambassador there at the time.
A Close Call: Almost Removed!
On January 22, 1912, the Bakersfield City Council wanted to take the clock tower down. They thought it was blocking a planned upgrade for the South Chester trolley line. But many citizens protested! They didn't want their beloved tower to go. After talking with Truxtun Beale, the city decided to let it stay. The trolley tracks were built around it instead. Even though it caused some traffic jams for trolleys and cars, the tower remained.
The Tower's New Life
Damaged by an Earthquake
Tragedy struck the clock tower in 1952. A big earthquake, known as the 1952 Kern County earthquake, badly damaged it. Because of the damage, the tower had to be taken down. Luckily, some important metal parts were saved. These included the clock's working parts, the bell, the iron spiral staircase, the balcony railings, and the fancy iron grillwork.
Rebuilt and Relocated
In 1961, a group of local people decided to bring the tower back. They worked together to build a new version of the tower. This new tower used the saved metal parts from the old one. It was built in a new spot, in front of the Kern County Museum on Chester Avenue. This new location is about 1.25 miles north of where the original tower stood. The rebuilt tower was officially dedicated on December 13, 1964, to the County of Kern. Today, it stands as a reminder of Bakersfield's history.
