“One Brick Higher”
The Purdue Clock Tower / Credit: Purdue
If you drive northwest of downtown Indianapolis for about an hour, you will land upon an iconic college town known for its ‘Hoosier’ hospitality, delicious food, and a welcoming local community. This town is West Lafayette, Indiana, and home to Purdue University. The term ‘Hoosier’ is an official demonym for a native inhabitant of Indiana, often associated with neighbourliness and “idyllic contentment with Indiana landscape and life”. However, apart from kind townspeople, Purdue’s campus also houses an iconic clock tower which is made in the style of the original from the 1800s.
The clock tower’s story dates all the way back to 1891, when the Indiana government allocated $120,000 towards a new engineering building at Purdue. Amos Heavilon – a successful farmer and businessman – had also donated $35,000 towards the new engineering building in 1892. By January 19th, 1894, the new engineering building was constructed, and it was named ‘Heavilon Hall’ after the generous donation made by Amos Heavilon.
Four days later, a boiler exploded. This explosion had sent a majority of the newly constructed hall to ashes. Only the outer remnants of the buildings tower had remained standing. But this too was demolished. According to public records from the Reamer Club Book, the school’s community was devasted.
Heavilon Hall shown in January 1894 after the fire / Credit: Purdue
President James H. Smart was the President of Purdue University at the time. A day after the fire occurred, he stood before a crowd of students and faculty and proclaimed, "We are looking this morning to the future, not the past…I tell you, young men, that tower shall go up one brick higher." The tower built afterwards was actually constructed nine bricks higher, but that quote is still at the heart of Purdue’s culture, which is a continuous pursuit to reach ‘one brick higher’, and to develop strength through hardship.
The rebuilt Heavilon Hall was completed in December 1895, but this time also included a clock and four bells that were to chime on the quarter hour. This new clock tower was a shocking 140-feet-tall monument showcasing Purdue’s rich history and values.
The rebuilt Heavilon Hall photographed in 1955 / Credit: The Indiana Album: Shirley and Mike Benham Collection
Sixty-six years later, in 1956, the rebuilt Heavilon Hall was in rough shape. Given the condition of the building at the time, it was determined that the best course of action was to do a total design-rebuild. Unfortunately, the clock tower was not part of this new design. A new ‘Heavilon Hall’ was constructed in 1959 where the original stood, but the bells and clock were put into storage.
Goodbyes are not always forever though.
In 1995, at the homecoming celebration on October 14th, the Purdue Class of 1948 gifted the University with a brand-new clock tower.
This also included a plaque which sealed the shaft that would house a time capsule. This time capsule included over 70 items, ranging from letters from the university and student government Presidents, a brick from the rebuilt Heavilon Tower, cassette tapes from the students at the time, and much more. This time capsule was not to be opened until 2095.
The Purdue Bell Tower Seal, constructed in 1995 / Credit: Purdue
Then, in 2020, on the 25th birthday of the new clock tower – the capsule was opened and new artifacts were to be included. These ranged from a Purdue wellness kit, a COVID-19 test kit, a protect Purdue ambassador uniform, and pictures of the bell tower’s 25th anniversary décor.
The new clocktower is a beautiful representation of the original building built in 1894, as well as the reconstructed tower that was destroyed in 1956. It stands 160-feet-tall, overlooking much of the Purdue campus.
The Purdue Clock Tower facing the Wilmeth Active Learning Center and Wetherill Chemistry Laboratory / Credit: Purdue
The bells from the original building were included in the new tower, while the original clock now resides in the atrium of the Roger B. Gatewood Wing of the Purdue Engineering building.
The original clock displayed in the atrium is in full working condition, including the 9-foot pendulum. This is important as the clock had ran for about 60 years prior to being shelved following the demolition of the previous Heavilon Hall building. Keith Hawks, who is a building consultant now at Purdue, was quoted saying, “This clock spans time from 1896 to the present, and by continuing to showcase the clock on campus, we are keeping the history of the School of Mechanical Engineering alive.”
The original Heavilon Hall clock with Galen King, professor of mechanical engineering and horologist, in discussion with two students / Credit: Purdue
The new tower itself is located in Sinninger Park, which is just a short distance from Heavilon Hall where it initially resided. The clock tower showcases its original bells, and is also equipped with an electric carillon which plays Purdue’s signature anthem at different points throughout the day and for celebrations as well. A monument showcasing the writing of ‘Hail Purdue’ is also proudly displayed in front of the tower.
The clock tower illuminated / Credit: Purdue
“Hail Purdue” proudly written before the grand clock tower / Credit: Purdue
As you can see, the Purdue Clock Tower is an important figure in the history, tradition, and values that Purdue represents. But it also coincides with local mythology as well!
Two major myths surround the new bell tower. First, it is that the seal underneath the bell tower is cursed, and that any student who walks underneath the tower will fail to graduate in four years. You will likely see superstitious students go around the tower rather than walk right through it. Second, its that any students who kiss underneath the tower and then immediately walk over to the Lion Fountain will eventually get married.
The bottom section of the Purdue Clock Tower and the famous seal underneath / Credit: Purdue
The Lion Fountain at Purdue, part of local mythology / Credit: Purdue
Many students refer to the Purdue Clock Tower as the ‘Big Ben of the Big Ten’ in reference to the magnificence of the clock tower and Purdue’s placement in the Big Ten conference. The clock tower remains an important figure in the history of Purdue University and continually inspires students to reach ‘One Brick Higher’.
By: Eric Mulder
The Purdue Clock Tower looking out over West Lafayette, Indiana / Credit: Purdue Reamer Club
Read more:
Hamon Kunz, Amanda. “Did You Know?: Heavilon Hall.” Purdue University, February 12th, 2015, https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/didyouknow/2015/Q1/did-you-know-heavilon-hall.html.
McCarter, Christy. “University to mark 25th birthday of Purdue Bell Tower.” Purdue University, October 12th, 2020, https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2020/Q4/university-to-mark-25th-birthday-of-purdue-bell-tower.html.
“Did You Know?: Original Heavilon Hall clock installed in Gatewood Wing.” Purdue University, October 20th, 2011, https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/general/2011/111020_DYK-HeavClock.html.