One of the most charming features of Avalon is the iconic and beautifully designed Chimes Tower. Wanting to do something special for the community, William Wrigley, Jr. and his wife Ada, purchased the Deagan Westminster chimes and, in December 1925, had a tower built to house them. The chimes first sounded in March 1926. In 2015 a non-profit formed to maintain the chimes and the tower that houses them.
This special tour will cover the history of the tower, John Deagan, the manufacturer of the tower chimes, and how the chimes operate. You will get to see the striker, generator and the mechanism that plays the melody up close. Our tour guide is Charlie Canby who has been caring for the chimes for 37 years.
The view from the Chimes Tower area looks down on the Casino and Harbor, so it is also a terrific place for photography. On your way up you will also see the Zane Grey Hotel.
The chimes tower is accessible by foot, cab or golf cart. The hike on foot is a bit strenuous as it is a steep paved incline in places.
We will be striking the chimes 20 times to commemorate our organizations twenty years attending the Avalon Ball. And, if you are a key board player, be prepared to play your favorite little ditty, one note at a time!
Proceeds from the tour will benefit the Chimes Tower Foundation. If you or someone you know would like to make a donation, the foundation suggests contributing through their website https://www.catalinachimes.org/.
Photos: Margot Gerber/Art Deco Society of Los Angeles