There have been lots of theories and speculation over the years as to why the Old Main towers were switched. It is well known that Old Main was built using plans originally designed by John M. Van Osdel of Chicago for a building on the University of Illinois campus. While the building in Illinois is long gone, we know that the towers in Illinois were opposite to those in Arkansas. On the University of Arkansas campus, the taller bell tower is on the north side while the shorter clock tower is on the south, even though the architectural plans show the towers reversed. The most popular theories about the switch are that the builders misread the plans or that the north tower was made taller to symbolize the Northern victory of the Civil War.  

According to the Board of Trustee Minutes from January 13, 1874, the change in towers was suggested by supervising architect John A. McKay to make the clock more visible. Most likely, this was so the clock could be seen into the city of Fayetteville. Even though Old Main (then called University Hall) was opened for use in 1875, a clock would not be installed in the tower for another 130 years due to a lack of funds.  

During the Campaign for the 21st Century (which raised over $1 billion in funding for the University between the years 1998-2005), more than $200,000 was raised to place a clock in Old Main. The clock was designed by Balzer Family Clock Works of Freeport, Maine. It was dedicated on October 27, 2005. The massive and artistic clock works running the tower clock can be viewed in a room on the fourth floor of Old Main.  

The northeast corner of Old Main houses the bell tower. The first bell was installed in the tower in 1879, and for a time, students were appointed weekly to ring the bell. Later William Nathan Gladson, professor and then dean of engineering, designed a device to automatically ring the bell.  

In 1944, money was set aside to build a memorial chapel for students and alumni who lost their lives during World War I and World War II. The Alumni Association started a fundraising campaign at this time to raise money for a set of bells for the chapel. After the war ended, the rapid increase in enrollment necessitated the money set aside for the chapel be used for student housing.  

In 1949, with the donors’ permission, the money collected for the chapel bells was used to buy a set of carillon bells for the north tower of Old Main instead. These bells were then dedicated to the memory of those lost during the two world wars. The bells were purchased from Schulmerich Electronics, Inc. There was a manual keyboard for the bells which could be played by faculty or music students. After many years of use, these bells fell into disrepair. When Old Main was revitalized and re-opened in 1991, a new set of bells was purchased again from Schulmerich, this time as a fully automated system.  

If you would like to learn more about the early days of the University, check out the newly published digital collection of the first 50 years of U of A Catalogs.

This blog post was written by guest author Amy Allen, university archivist.