Tribune Tower (Oakland)

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The Tribune Tower, the headquarters of the Oakland Tribune

The Tribune Tower at night, viewed from the Oakland City Center

The Tribune Tower is a 305 ft (93 m), 21 story building located in Downtown Oakland, California. The 89,251 sq.ft. (8,291 sq. m.), Tribune Tower was designed by Edward T. Foulkes and completed in 1923. The Tower was opened by Joseph R. Knowland, January 1, 1924. It was built as the home of the Oakland Tribune newspaper, and is a symbol of both the newspaper and the city of Oakland.

[edit] History

The Tribune Tower was built in two stages. The six story base was completed in 1907. The clock tower was completed in 1923. From 1924, the Tower would appear on the newspaper's masthead. The top floor of the tower housed radio station KLX from its opening until the station was sold in 1959. The station sale was to pay off debts incurred by Senator William F. Knowland's ill-fated 1958 run for California governor.

In 1915, when former U.S. Congressman, Joseph R. Knowland acquired the Oakland Tribune, the newspaper was located at Eighth and Franklin Streets in the old Golden West Hotel. March 25, 1918, the Breuner Furniture Company vacated its home at Thirteenth and Franklin Streets. Joseph R. Knowland envisioned the vacated warehouse as making a first class newspaper building. The building was independent of the later, built Tower. The origin of the newspaper building, built in the 1890's, prior to Breuner's warehouse it was the Pantages Theatre.

Joseph R. Knowland, the Republican editor and publisher of the Oakland Tribune, known as the Power In The Tower. Knowland was political mentor to his son, William F. Knowland and Earl Warren and many other Republicans. Joseph R. Knowland's office was on the 4th Floor of the newspaper building. From 1966 to 1974, Senator William F. Knowland's office was on the 20th Floor of the Tower.

The building was declared a city landmark on May 4, 1976.

In 1979, Gannett Company purchased the Tower from the Tribune Publishing Corporation.

The tower was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which led the Oakland Tribune to relocate to a new office in Jack London Square. The Tower sat empty, until 1995, when purchased by John Protopappas for $300,000. Protopappas company, Madison Park Financial Corporation renovated the Tower in the late 1990s. The Tribune's parent company, ANG Newspapers, returned to the building after it reopened in 1999, and the building now houses offices and condos. In late 2005, Protopappas entered negotiations with Edward B. Kislinger. The tower was sold to Kislinger, January 20, 2006 for approximately $15 million.

The clock faces were given a restoration and clean-up during the late fall months of 2006. Throughout the various stages, they remained covered and/or unlit during dark hours, while a set of faint green lights kept the tower top slightly visible. Finally on December 22nd, the clock faces and lettering became relit. The tower top once again acts as a beacon for those approaching the heart of downtown Oakland from many miles away. Along with cleaner faces, the numbers and minute increments were enlarged and redefined, making them visible from several blocks away. Internally, the clocks were also fixed to reflect the official time, likely via satellite. For years, they would be too fast or too slow by as many as 1-4 minutes, and the faces would not be in sync with each other. The chimes are still set to ring a minute later. Overall, the restoration is admired by many passer-bys, and those approaching the historic landmark.