Tower on the Green
Standing at the entrance to Garden Grove's oldest park, the Village Green, adjacent to historic downtown Main Street, the "Tower on the Green" clock tower symbolized the proud spirit of the Garden Grove community.
Twin black obelisks, imported from India and made of solid granite, rise at the base of the clock tower. They are inscribed with the names of all the groups, individuals, and business donors who provided crucial funding for the project. Custom built strawberries, suspended form the adjoining light standards, represent one of Garden Grove's biggest events - - - the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival.
On April 18, 2002, the Garden Grove community gathered together to mark the official dedication of the Tower on the Green. The program focused on Garden Grove's rich ethnic diversity, culminating in the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony and release of 100 white doves.
From beginning to end, the Tower on the Green has been a community-wide endeavor - supported by philanthropic donations from all sectors, and publicly dedicated to the dynamic spirit and contributions of Garden Grove's 172,000 residents.
The Tower on the Green is a project of the Garden Grove Community Foundation (GGCF), a not for profit organization, whose mission is to make Garden Grove a better place to live, learn and play. The Garden Grove Community Foundation programs aim to create a positive image fo our city and enhance the quality of life for our community through cultural and educational programs.
Clock Tower History
The concept for the Tower on the Green was developed in January 1999, to complement the completion of the Main Street Brick Walkway. Under the leadership of then GGCF President, Harry J. Krebs, a group of dedicated citizens came together to form the Clock & Brick Committee. This group, which included architects and civic leaders, began planning the design for the clock tower.
Next, came the important task of naming the clock tower. The Foundation Board unanimously chose the name, "Tower on the Green."
In March 1999, the GGCF held a ground-breaking event to raise awareness and excitement about the project at what was then the future site of the Tower on the Green in Village Green Park. A the fundraising event, the first pledges were made by a small but active group of Garden Grove businesses, service clubs, and private individuals, The enthusiasm for the new landmark grew rapidly. One year after the groundbreaking, more than $25,000 was raised for the project; by the end of 2001, that number rose to $118,000 in donations and pledges!
Green Giant Construction Company was selected to build the clock tower and in January 2002 construction began. Two months later, the 30,000-pound main steel structure was delivered and set in place.
The clock mechanism was ordered in November 2001 from Electric Time Company of Medford, Maine for delivery in late March 2002. Twin, 4,300 pound, black granite obelisks were ordered and shipped from India to be placed at the base of the Tower on the Green.
At the end of 2001, an organizing committee representing many local groups and businesses began planning the Tower on the Green dedication event. Finally, amidst music, food, and the warmth of the Garden Grove community, the Tower on the green was officially dedicated on April 18, 2002.
Fun Facts
Architect: Miles Folsum - Anaheim, CA
Tower Dimensions: Height - 43 feet; Width - 12 feet; Weight - 30,000 pounds
Clock Face: The Tower includes four, 700-pound clock faces, each eight feet in diameter. A single control box operates the clock mechanism with a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. Electric Time Company of Medford, Maine supplied the clock faces.
Light Standards: The tower site has six light standards, each 16 feet tall. Each standard is adorned with two hand-painted, cast iron strawberries, weighing 48 pounds each.
Banners: Sixteen banners, varying in size and color, adorn the clock tower and light standards.
Landscaping: Ten, 21-foot date palms line the clock tower walkway. Shrubbery around the tower site includes red Day Lilies, Heavenly Bamboo, Dwarf Flax, India Hawthorne, and Mock Orange.
Obelisks: The two, six-foot, 4,300-pound obelisks at the tower site are made of solid granite imported from India, and contain the names of those who donated $1,000 toward the construction costs. One obelisk is dedicated to the business community, the other to individual donors.
