The Ontario Power Generation (Ontario Hydro) - Niagara Parks Commission Floral Clock is located along the Niagara River Parkway just north of the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectricity Generating Stations. This unique attraction is a very popular stop on the Niagara Parkway and is photographed almost as often as the Falls!
The clock was inspired by then Ontario Hydro chairman, Dr. Richard L. Hearn, and was based on the famous clock built in Princess Street Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1903. Dr. Hearn had seen this clock at the Princess Street gardens during a business trip. The clock is the largest type of its kind in the world. It is three times the size of the clock in Scotland. The clock mechanism, hands, drive system and chimes were designed and built by Ontario Hydro staff.
The clock was completed in 1950 and is 40 feet (12.2m) in diameter and has a planted area of 38 feet (11.5m) in diameter consisting of more than 24,000 colourful carpet plants. During the winter multi-coloured stones replace the flowers. A 10 foot (3.05m) wide by 85 foot (25.9m) diameter water garden surrounds the clock. The hands of the clock are made of 3¼" and 3½" stainless steel tubing telescoped into each other and welded to stainless steel castings. They are counter-balanced in their short ends so that they require the same turning effort in all positions of their entire sweep. The hour hand is 14.6 feet (4.4m) long and weighs 500 pounds. The minute hand is 17.6 feet (5.3m) long and also weighs 500 pounds. The second hand is 21 feet (6.4m) long and weighs 250 pounds. The clock mechanism runs in a bath of oil and is driven by a 2 horsepower (hp), 3 phase squirrel cage motor.
Underneath the clock is a reinforced concrete bunker containing three rooms, each being 9 feet (2.7m) by 10 feet (3m) in diameter and 8½ feet (2.5m) in height. This space serves to house the clock mechanism and the electrical equipment. A stone tower located at the rear of the clock rises 24 feet (7.3m) in height. Only 12 feet (3.5m) of the tower appears above the clock dial when viewed from the front. If the door into the tower is open, you can take a glimpse at the clock mechanism and enjoy photographs that show the history of almost every face design all the way back to 1950. Behind the louvered opening in the tower are four - 25 watt co-axial speakers which broadcast the Westminster Chimes on every hour and quarter hour.
The time on the floral clock is checked daily to ensure accuracy. The planted face is maintained by Niagara Parks horticulture staff, while the mechanism is kept in working order by Ontario Hydro. Designs for the face of this clock are changed seasonally and yearly.
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