New time capsule to be sealed into Clock Tower on October 7!

The City’s 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 100^th anniversary since the historic Edwardsville National Bank Clock, which hangs at the tower, was first erected in the City.

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 it was 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.

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.

The 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 City’s 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.

A new time capsule will be created and sealed in the tower later this year. Just like 25 years ago, the array of contents won’t be revealed until it’s reopened. The Historic Preservation Commission will install a new plaque to designate the next rededication, scheduled for sometime in 2048. 

For more information, email: HistoricPreservationCommission@cityofedwardsville.com

Read the press release on the May 2023 rededication here.