Isn’t it remarkable how something born out of necessity can become a beloved landmark? That’s precisely the story of the University Tower.
The University of Detroit Mercy, a Catholic university with roots tracing back to 1877, stands as Michigan’s oldest and largest. The University Tower is its most recognizable feature. But there’s more to the tower than meets the eye.
Originally, the tower was not intended to be a monument. The University of Detroit needed to disguise the school’s power plant chimney. In 1927, the campus expanded to West McNichols Road and Livernois Avenue. The architectural firm Malcomson & Higginbotham designed the campus in a Spanish Mission style. The power plant was built along with the other buildings. However, its large chimney was an eyesore in the middle of the campus.
The solution? A beautiful 175-foot clock tower. Malcomson & Higginbotham designed the tower to conceal the chimney. The University Tower became a memorial dedicated to the twelve students and alumni who lost their lives in World War I. It was dedicated to those who gave their lives for the ideals that the university sought to instill. Bishop Michael J. Gallagher blessed the grounds and buildings in October 1927.
The University Tower continues to be a landmark for the university and northwest Detroit. It is more than just a clock tower. It is a symbol of remembrance and ingenuity.
The most photographed representative of the UDM’s campus is the World War I memorial clock tower. Its iconic image is part of postcards from the 1930s. It’s in the current university admissions literature. It is even on the nameplate of this newspaper.
The clock tower needs constant upkeep. Falcons inhabit the tower’s peak. They return each spring and have eyasses. Eyasses are baby falcons in their nest atop the tower.
Only once in the university’s history students had permission to use the clock tower. The ROTC program had its participants repel up and down the tower as part of training.
Etched in the base of the University Tower, you’ll find these words: “TO THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MEN WHO DIED IN THE WORLD WAR 1914-18 OUR HONORED DEAD.” Following, the names of the fallen: John DesChamps, Charles Harrison, Louis Mans, and more. The inscription concludes with “FROM RELATIVES, ALUMNI & STUDENTS”.
So, as you stand here, take a moment to appreciate the University Tower. The University Tower is a testament to the University of Detroit Mercy’s history and the sacrifices of its students. It is a reminder that beauty can arise from the most unexpected of places.