The iconic Happy Hans Cuckoo Clock in Kimberley’s Platzl will be renovated to commemorate its 50th year in the community.
This comes as Heritage BC announced its contribution of $25,400 towards the project.
“This year is his 50th birthday and he needs a little bit of care, love and upkeep,” said Katherine Petersen, Kimberley Chamber of Commerce General Manager.
“Our project involves doing work to the structure and the exterior, mechanical and electrical, the audio and sound, and the artistic components. That would be the Happy Hans figure himself, the decorative inlays of the doors and the clock face.”
Petersen said they hope to start the project shortly after Oktoberfest on Oct 7.
“We want the clock up and operational for that event. Our goal is to start the week after Oktoberfest,” said Petersen. “Hopefully, weather permitting, the entire project will be completed by Christmas.”
The Happy Hans Cuckoo Clock is the largest free-standing cuckoo clock in the world, measuring 22 feet tall.
It was built in 1973 by the Kimberley Bavarian Society, now known as the Chamber of Commerce.
“This was the time when the mine was closing down. The town was looking to put itself back on the map, so it became known as the Bavarian City of the Rockies,” said Petersen. “In 1972, these discussions began and the Bavarian Society wanted the world’s largest cuckoo clock.”
The clock was built by Kimberley’s business community in the Platzl the following year.
“It was done without approvals and without permits. It just kind of went up over the course of a long weekend, and the clock has sat there ever since,” said Petersen.
Petersen said the clock serves as a monument to Kimberley’s ability to reinvent its image.
“Even though Kimberley has moved away from the Bavarian theme now, the clock is featured on basically every postcard and photo of Kimberley,” said Petersen. “It’s a historic piece of Kimberley’s past, where it marks how we were able to persevere and redevelop our town into something new.”
