Our History

Beach Cliff Garden Club was established in 1929 with the purpose of furthering knowledge and interest in growing flowers and vegetables, encouraging their use in bringing order and beauty into the homes of members, and to promote conservation and civic planting. These ideas have been carried forward and today our club holds a prestigious position among garden clubs in Cleveland and in Ohio.

The Rocky River Clock Tower, a 35 foot Tudor-style landmark, was originally built in 1912 on the estate of U.S. Representative, Clifton B. Beach, at the intersection of Avalon Drive and Lake Road in Rocky River. When the Beach property was subdivided in 1902 for real estate development, a small triangular park was reserved around the tower for the enjoyment of the new residential community. 

Alfred W. Smith was the developer in charge of the subdivision and design. On May 12, 1956 a violent windstorm leveled the 44 year old city landmark (see our blog article for a personal account). In 1971, students from the Beach Elementary school raised money to build a fountain on the site. The clock works and the wrought iron face were placed in storage until 1986 when residents of the community contributed to a fund for the restoration of the tower. 

On October 31, 1987 the Clock Tower was re-dedicated, having been rebuilt on exactly the same spot and reproduced in every detail. Even the face of the clock shows the number 4 as IIII instead of IV. The clock works were renovated and repaired and the weather vane was reconstructed. 

Since the re-dedication in 1987, two memorials connected to the Beach Cliff Garden Club have become part of the Clock Tower site. One is the Pat Lake Garden and another is a plaque honoring the memory of Joanne Shie. Both were members of the BCGC and Joanne was a past president.

This plaque was unveiled on October 16,2016. 

Jill Duffin led a committee and worked closely with Mayor Pamela Bobst and city service personnel. The location  was chosen to afford visibility for the memorial along a busy road while also taking advantage of the park setting for pause and reflection. City service personnel took delivery of and installed the marker and the garden club planned a beautiful and poignant dedication ceremony involving the garden club members, Mayor Bobst, Mr. Richard Healey, Commander of the Lakewood-Rocky River Joint Veterans Council, Celine Hallier, Garden Club of Ohio Blue Star Chairman, local clergy, local high school choir members, and an honor guard with taps trumpeter. The marker was made in Ohio, and there are over 50 memorials throughout the state. It's also significant to note that marker is along Lake Road, which is also historic Route 6. Stretching from Connecticut to California, Route 6 is also known as the "Grand Army of the Republic Highway," and honors Civil War veterans.

The Blue Star program began with the planting of 8,000 dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of WWII. The program was adopted by garden clubs throughout the nation in 1945, with a Blue Star commemorative highway system across the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. Markers are placed at intervals along the way. In 1951, the program expanded to honor "all men and women who served, were serving or would serve in the armed services of the United States." 

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