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Charm City Icon Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Gets Makeover

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It was built in 1911, and, at one time, was the tallest building in Baltimore.

Now, Ron Matz reports a Charm City icon is undergoing a major restoration.

It stands at the corner of Eutaw and Lombard streets. Fifteen stories tall, the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower has been a beacon in Baltimore, part of the city skyline, for more than a century--and now, a major restoration is underway.

"A company from Maine has come down, the Balzer Family Clockworks, who will restore the clock to its original, weight-driven gravity mechanisms. Yesterday was the first day. We're taking the hands off the face of the clock," said Annie Applegarth, Office of Promotion and the Arts. "They are going to take the entire clock up to Maine. They'll do a full restoration. There are some pieces that are missing over the years and they will reconstruct those pieces. During that time, the Azola Builders will be working on the exterior of the building to make sure it's safe and watertight for the clock's return."

And fixing the hands of time is painstaking work--one clock, but four faces.

"We've already completed the south now we're beginning the west tower. There are four faces to one clock," Applegarth said.

The tower was inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy; now it's home to many Baltimore artists.

"It's an amazing building. We're open on Saturdays for people to come down and visit the artists and actually go into the clock room for a tour. We'd love everybody to come down and visit this amazing icon of Baltimore," Applegarth said.

This is the second phase of the tower's restoration. It's expected to take eight months to a year.

"In eight months to a year, we hope to have everything fully restored and back running on time with the precision of Big Ben--if not better," Applegarth said.

The restoration is expected to cost $1.8 million. The tower is on the U.S. National Registry of Historic Places.

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