Thornwood Clock Tower

The clock tower is truly a gift to those living, working, and visiting Thornwood. Developer Spence Ray wanted to create a focal point that was unique to Thornwood and Germantown. His goal was to bring some sense of living in 19th Century America back. The beautiful Westminster chimes ring out into the air every hour on the hour, signaling time passing throughout the day. Some are reminded of the bells, right before they walked down the aisle or waited on their bride, and some minds trail back to a clock in a family home calling everyone to the dinner. “Bells used to call the community together,” Ray said, “to worship and to work. For significant events, they rang the bells to let people know something special was going on. Whatever memory is triggered, we hope the Thornwood Clocktower will be a part of many happy times in your future.” At least one marriage proposal has taken place in front of the tower,

The tower roof is copper and weighs 7,600 pounds! The clock tower is 7 stories high. The 4 bronze bells were cast in 1902 and came from an Episcopal church in New Jersey. They were made by the Meneely Foundry, established in 1826 in West Troy, New York. The largest bell weighs 1,000 pounds! The tower is topped with four 8-foot time clock faces linked to a computerized striking mechanism that marks the hour with chimes. The sound of the chimes carries 3 miles from the Thornwood community.

The Thornwood clock was made by the Electric Time Co. in Medfield, Massachusetts, which also made the clocks on Main Street USA in Disney World, Wrigley Field, Tiffany & Co., and the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

Source: Thornwood Happenings Issue 3, July 2020