Iconic Rockford clock tower is demolished

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) - A clock tower that stood as a symbol of the northern Illinois community of Rockford has been demolished.

The Rockford Register-Star reports the iconic tower along Interstate 90 was torn down Wednesday.

The clock was part of the Clock Tower Resort, which opened in 1968 and was once one of the city's most popular hotels. It had a museum that featured multimillion-dollar timepieces. Over the past half-century the resort was the site of a jazz festival and a visit from former President Gerald Ford.

The museum closed in 1999, and the building changed owners several times. Demolition of the property - which had been in violation of city codes - began three months ago.

It's unclear what will happen with the site, which a group of investors bought a year ago.