Mt Angel, Oregon - The Glockenspiel

I was just in Mt. Angel, home of the ever so famous Oktoberfest, and I couldn't help but see the giant Glockenspiel in the center of town. Apparently all of the seven life size characters were wood carvings by local crafters. It was really cool to see a real Glockenspiel here in Oregon, something I have only ever seen in Europe.

After I watched the clock sing and dance I went in the Glockenspiel Restaurant. The food was not only stunning to look at, it was delicious, and the restaurant itself was gorgeous! Good job Mt. Angel! [Elizabeth, 04/09/2008]

Home to the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest, Edelweiss Village in downtown Mt. Angel will have America's Tallest Glockenspiel. Mount Angel's Glockenspiel will celebrate the German-Swiss-Bavarian heritage of our village and our world famous Oktoberfest.

The first figure represents the Native Americans who came to this place to communicate with the Great Spirit, followed by figures depicting the founders of both the civil and religious communities of Mount Angel and the frivolity and fun of the Oktoberfest.

The next figure is a double statue depicting Mr. and Mrs. Robert Zollner the first German settlers to come to this part of the valley in 1867. With the coming of Mathias Butsch in the fall of 1878, the Catholic community of Mount Angel found their leader. He was instrumental in the building the first church, a community store and the first railroad station. Most importantly, he was instrumental in bringing the Benedictine monks to Mount Angel. He is still widely known as the "Father of Mount Angel."

Prior Adelhelm Odermatt came from our sister city of Engelberg in Switzerland and established the Benedictine Monastery in 1881. He was Mount Angel's first pastor. He suggested the name "Mount Angel" for the small community, the anglicized version of Engelberg, his Swiss home.

The Benedictine Sisters came to Mount Angel in 1882, from the Convent of Maria Rickenbach in Switzerland. Sister Bernadine Wachter was the first Prioress of the convent and new school, built in the shadow of Prayer Mountain.

The town flourished over the years, and in 1966 took on a Bavarian feeling when the first Oktoberfest was celebrated. The Papa Oom Pah figure is the official Oktoberfest mascot. He is a jolly Bavarian with rosy cheeks, a flowing mustache, lederhosen, and a huge tuba. He represents all the fun and excitement of the Northwest's best-loved folk festival and our Bavarian cultural heritage.

The grand finale happens on the second floor. When the shutters open, we look to our future. A boy and a girl dressed in traditional Bavarian costumes swing on a garden swing and sing the song Edelweiss. A very appropriate song, since the Glockenspiel Tower will be on the corner of the new Edelweiss Village complex in Mount Angel.

The Glockenspiel will be the cornerstone of our downtown core. The Edelweiss building and tower are built to resemble a large Bavarian chalet with numerous Alpine features such as balconies, pitched and gabled roofs, massive half-timbering, and stucco work. The completion date for the Glockenspiel is Oktoberfest 2006 (September 13). The Edelweiss Building will be completed by early 2007. The Glockenspiel will be a permanent feature in our community. It will be a great work of art to be enjoyed by our citizens and the many people that visit our town. [Mar, 07/25/2006]