Photograph
Catalog Number
2019.1.1577Description
An aerial photograph of the reconstruction of 8th Street in downtown Holland. The photo is dated 6/28/1974. The sign on the Clock Tower Building reads Michigan Bell Telephone Company. These businesses can be seen on the right in the photo: Model Drug Store, Town Finance Loans, Campus Store and part of a restaurant sign. On the left is a partial sign for Reader's World and the Windmill Restuarant sign.History
Randall P. "Randy" Vande Water was a local historian and newspaper editor. He spent 4 decades at the Holland Sentinel working as sports editor, city editor, editorial page editor, and managing editor.The Tower Clock building at River and 8th was built in 1892 for $27,000. This Victorian Romanesque structure was constructed of Waverly Stone from the local quarry. The first occupant was the Holland City State Bank under the leadership of bank president Jacob Van Putten.
John Raven (1866-1968), Holland resident and local jeweler, told the City Bank he would build a clock in the building so “men wouldn’t be late for work”. Raven installed the clock machinery and the timepiece began ticking on November 11, 1893. Raven raised the $600 for the clock from donations from merchants, furniture factories and Cappon-Bertsch Leather Co. He was helped by L.P. Husen.
When first constructed the entrance of the Tower Clock building was reached by circular stone steps. The original building was beautiful but inconvenient so in 1919 the building’s floor was lowered to become level with the street and the entire entrance was changed.
Tower Clock continues to serve as a prominent landmark for the downtown district.