By By Clara Weedman,File/max White/staff

Copyright postandcourier

“The city of London is never going to consider getting rid of Big Ben. This is Spartanburg’s Big Ben,” Al Schneider said.

The clock tower has stood on Morgan Square since 1979, funded in part by students whose names are engraved on bricks in the tower. It was moved to its current location in 1989. The clock itself, which was first housed in the Spartanburg Opera House, dates back to 1881.

City officials said moving or restoring the tower would be too costly — City Manager Chris Story said the price tag would be $850,000 to $900,000. As a compromise, they suggested displaying parts of the tower in the new joint city-county complex as part of an exhibit on the history of the clock tower.

That proposal also drew criticism from residents, who noted the display would be accessible only during business hours. But Story said installing another clock tower nearby would diminish the impact of both structures.

“Two clock towers within a block or two of each other just takes the shine off both,” Story said during an Aug. 25 meeting.

A new clock tower is planned as part of the joint city-county government facility. Story said it follows longstanding tradition.

“That had been the case for the first 77 years of the city’s history of having a clock tower element as the primary architectural symbol of the seat of local government,” Story said.

Councilmember Ruth Littlejohn, who voted to tear down the tower, said it was needed.

“I believe it has to be moved. And I wish there was a way for it to be placed in front of the new city-county building,” Littlejohn said.

Brown, who was among the “no” votes, emphasized the importance of preserving local history and keeping the charm of the downtown.

“I can understand the reasons for it needing to be moved, but I’m not in favor of it just being completely torn down,” Brown said.