In 1957 the Continental National Bank of Fort Worth completed its new steel and glass headquarters building. It was the first modern building built in downtown Fort Worth. All the others up to that time looked like they were from the 1920’s.
The first photo above shows the shining steel and glass tower of the Continental National Bank amid all the older brick buildings of the city. The second photo shows a clearer picture of the building itself. Although the glass and steel construction marked the beginning of a new era for our city, that’s not what really set this building apart from all the others. The CNB sign on top of the building was actually part of a clock.
As this photo shows, the structure on top of the building also housed a digital clock—at a time when digital clocks were a rarity. Two sides of the 32 foot tall revolving cube bore the bank’s initials, and two sides bore the displays of the clock. The top of the clock was 420 feet above the street.
Our house in the Ridglea neighborhood was between five and six miles west of downtown, but I could stand on our second story deck and see the tower and the clock. With binoculars, I could even tell the time it displayed.
This tower and clock gave our city a uniqueness. Dallas and Houston had no such features. In fact, I don’t recall seeing such a building with such a clock in any other cities I’ve been in.
Sadly, the clock quit revolving in 1978 and quit keeping time in 1991. It was removed in 2000, and the building was imploded in 2006. A future post in this series will explain why it was taken down.
What unique landmarks set your hometown apart from other places?
——————————————
WANA: We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.
——————————————
For more information about David N. Walker, click the “About” tab above.
For more information about his books, click on “Books” above.
Contact him at dnwalkertx (at) gmail (dot) com or tweet him at @davidnwalkertx.
David N Walker 
Awesome! Its really remarkable post, I have got much clear idea
concerning from this article.
LikeLike
David – Hello my friend and how are you. I’ve missed reading your blogs, but I’m back. I’ve dropped out of Facebook but have hung on to brief interactions on Twitter. After all, you’re the man that gave me my first real experiences within Twitter. I’ll be reworking my ‘Blogs I Follow’ in the near future and of course you’ll be on it.
I love your blogs and have missed so many. Tom has been very ill and had emergency heart surgery June 11th. He’s recovering and I now have him at home and what a relief it is.
The reason I’m reworking my ‘Blogs I Follow Category’ is I realized the list rapidly became overcrowded. I want it to represent those blogs I try to read each and every time the writer posts and for those bloggers I hold dear to my heart. Thank you for being my friend. You mean so much to me. Your friend, Sheri
LikeLike
Thank you for the kind words, Sheri. You mean a lot to me also.
LikeLike
Does it sound strange that I don’t really feel I have a home town, only a home state?
LikeLike
Did you move a lot when you were growing up, Kitt? That would make a difference.
LikeLike
I did. First international move happened when I was 8 months old. 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, I have no memory of the clock or being able to see it from our balcony. Strange how we both remember things the other one forgot. Interesting anyway.
LikeLike
As big a deal as that was, I’m sorta surprised you don’t remember it, Sis.
LikeLike
I remember the building well. I’ll look forward to your blog explaining why it was taken down.
LikeLike
Hint, Sharon. It was taken down shortly after a major disaster in 2000.
LikeLike