I am hoping to track down some stories concerning the clock in the train station.

I understand it used to be in the city hall of one of the cities nearby. The city hall was torn down and the gentleman who owns the station bought the clock and installed it where it is now.

I don't know if the story is true, or if the station had another clock. Or if the tower was built for this movement. There is a shop in the station, but the owner, with all the answers, has not been there at the same times I have checked. My next quest is to track down the history and to take some photos of the clock, and find pictures of it in its original home, once I know where that is.

I finally got a chanace to talk to Al Ketchum, the owner of the station. We had a great chat, and I am going to get together with him in a bit to get the full history. In brief, the clock was on two municipal buildings in Salem. It is believed to be a Seth Thomas movement which has been electrified. The tower was not part of the station, but added specifically for saving this clock.
Photos of the original station as well as photos of the original buildings the clock was housed in will follow my next visit.

Hello Tom:

I don't know of any Railroad Station Tower clocks in Canad. But I do remember seeing one in Portland, Oregon's station. It was lit up at night, whether it is still mechanical would have to be researched. I remember seeing Elgin clocks on the four corners of Union Station in Chicago. Lancaster station in Pennsylvania, had one, and there is one at Grand Central Station in New York. These are all I can think of at the moment. I have worked on two Tower clocks in Calgary Alberta, a Seth Thomas in Calgary's City Hall, that was installed around 1911, and an E. Howard that was originally installed in the Bank of Commerce building, and was rescued by our local chapter and was installed in the coupala from James Short an old-school in Calgary that had been torn down.

Tom,
That is so wonderful! I'm so pleased to know that some of our "Gems" have "Friends" to save them.

I can't wait for you to add to the information, and pretty nice pictures too!

Thank you,

OH, and by the way, I thought this "tower" clock was so cool.

It's in, or was in, Colorado

Hello Tom:

I Found a Canadian Postcard with a Clock attached to its building, the depot floor the British Columbia Electric Railway. The building and clock are now long gone.

Nice picture Larry.

I have more information on the clock and some old pictures of the station. I will post them as soon as I can get the information in a presentable order.

1871 – Salem, OR Marion County Court House was built and housed the clock. The best information I have is that it is a Howard movement. There are no marks anywhere on the movement today. It originally had a wooden dial.

In 1953 the old building was demolished and the clock was moved across the street to the Salem city Hall.

Some of the pictures will have a reflection on them, as they were framed and hanging on the wall.

In 1969 a new civic center was built and the old City Hall was torn down in 1972. The clock remained in storage in Salem until 1975 or 76. At that time the clock was bought by George Schmidt. He then owned the train station in Mount Angel, about 14 miles from Salem. He built a 40 ft. tower at one end of the station to house the clock.

Some history of the train station itself. This picture shows an early crew.

There is no date on this picture, but there was a card attached to the back. The card is pictured, the text, as best I can make of it is:

Sebastian Englehart seated on right hand car w/ black hat and handlebar mustache.
Anton Englehart and son living in Mount Angel.
Alicia Hull, granddaughter living in Washington.
Anton is her uncle
Her brother living in Mount Angel.

Another old picture of the station.

This picture is dated 1912. The city of Mount Angel is seen in the background. St. Mary's Church is seen prominently and the hill in the background is the home of the Benedictine Abby.

The first thing one comes across as you climb up to the clock is the bell.

Movement picture 1
The actual dial are larger than the openings on the inside.

Movement Picture 2

Movement Picture 3

Movement Picture 4

Movement Picture 5

The clock is currently being run by the small silver electric motor about the size of a silver dollar as seen in this picture.

As one climbs to the clock, the original end of the station is visible.

The 7x2 paned window on the original end of the station is now on the end of the tower.

MANY THANKS TO AL KETCHUM for all the information and access to the clock.

The station today. Notice the new ties lying alongside the track.

This picture taken from the same spot as the one above, just facing the opposite direction. The crew replacing the ties has just about reached the station.

The small print on the sign is: Willamette Valley Railway Co.

Great story and pictures, Tom. Thank you so much for sharing.

Nice piece of horological research you've pulled together Tom.

Hello i am very sorry to butt in, but can someone please help me contact Tom Semour..Its about him posting something about a Michael Fenton wanting to know more on Thomas Royle, Clockmaker in Whitehaven. It was posted Oct. 11 2006. Please help me?.Thankyou. My e-mail add is ll.borrett@ntlworld.com

Lee, I am sending your message and email address along to Tom.

Lee, I will get with you as soon as possible. Thanks for your post, and "butting in" is always welcome!!

Phil, thanks for stepping in. I was out of town for four days, and then on our first day back we lost power after a strong wind storm. I have the email and will respond ASAP.

We went to a great antique show in Puyallup WA and I managed to snag some great watches, and chat meet a number of interesting people including Tony Knorr a great watchmaker and teacher of watch repair for a local college and AWI Suitcase classes.

Phil many thanks for your help and Tom thanks for your message Best Regards Lee

Lee,
I do not know how to contact Michael Fenton. The inquiry I got was forwaded to me from a third party and that email is no longer on my computer.

I wish I could have helped more.