鐘(zhong)樓(lou)后的(de)譙樓(lou)始建(jian)于(yu)元(yuan)代(dai)至正九年(1349年),它的(de)前(qian)身是宋(song)淳熙年間(jian)建(jian)造的(de)用(yong)以(yi)了望的(de)戍(shu)樓(lou)。由于(yu)它建(jian)在州(zhou)署前(qian)的(de)所謂“子城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”的(de)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)之上(shang),在當(dang)時(shi)(shi)通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)屬(shu)高建(jian)筑(zhu),因此(ci)在明代(dai)還有人把(ba)“譙樓(lou)月曉”列為“通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)八景”之一(yi)。譙樓(lou)內(nei)設有計時(shi)(shi)的(de)刻(ke)漏,并采用(yong)更鼓來報(bao)時(shi)(shi)。清道光八年,通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)知州(zhou)周(zhou)燾將譙樓(lou)維(wei)修(xiu)一(yi)新(xin),撤去原來懸掛的(de)“海山要郡”匾(bian)(bian)額(e),換上(shang)新(xin)命名(ming)的(de)“星樞樓(lou)”樓(lou)匾(bian)(bian)。樓(lou)名(ming)星樞,是依星相學說(shuo),希望因此(ci)使通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)文(wen)化發達、人才興盛。
民國三年(1914年),張謇與其(qi)兄用南(nan)通(tong)(tong)潘氏捐(juan)給通(tong)(tong)崇(chong)海(hai)(hai)總商會(hui)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)五(wu)千元錢在上(shang)海(hai)(hai)買來巨鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),并在譙(qiao)樓(lou)(lou)前建(jian)造了(le)(le)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)。鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)為南(nan)通(tong)(tong)建(jian)筑師孫支廈設計,在風(feng)格上(shang)明(ming)顯受著西(xi)方(fang)藝術(shu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)影響。張謇撰書的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)“疇昔是(shi)州今(jin)是(shi)縣,江淮之委海(hai)(hai)之端”對聯,也被刻上(shang)木版懸于樓(lou)(lou)前,成(cheng)為傳頌多時(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)名(ming)作。 鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)成(cheng),為南(nan)通(tong)(tong)民眾(zhong)掌握時(shi)間提供(gong)了(le)(le)方(fang)便(bian)。兩年后(hou),樓(lou)(lou)上(shang)又增(zeng)舔了(le)(le)消防警(jing)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),通(tong)(tong)過警(jing)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)敲擊(ji)聲數(shu)來指示火災方(fang)位(wei)。另外(wai)還配備了(le)(le)代表(biao)方(fang)向的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)色旗(qi)、色燈,遇有(you)火情,同時(shi)張掛。 隨著歷(li)(li)史的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)演進,報時(shi)更鼓、消防警(jing)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)久已消失(shi),而鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)時(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)卻(que)依然運(yun)行。令人欣喜的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)是(shi),鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)形象被設計上(shang)市徽,成(cheng)為南(nan)通(tong)(tong)市的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)標志。市政(zheng)府公布譙(qiao)樓(lou)(lou)、鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)為文物(wu)保(bao)護單位(wei),這對保(bao)存和利用這一“中西(xi)合(he)璧(bi)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)特殊建(jian)筑,了(le)(le)解南(nan)通(tong)(tong)歷(li)(li)史沿革,無疑提供(gong)了(le)(le)保(bao)障。