Iowa All Over: Masterpieces that do more than tell time

SPILLVILLE - Frank (1884-1965) and Joseph (1880-1964) Bily began carving on the farm where they were born, between Ridgeway and Spillville, about two hours north of Cedar Rapids.

To this day, the Bily Brothers' ornate masterpieces - hand-carved clocks - continue to impress visitors from around the world at the Bily Clocks Museum in Spillville.

The brothers were farmers and carpenters. Carving was something they did on the side.

The clocks themselves are massive. Some of them stand more than nine feet tall.

The huge carved statues are more works of art than simple tellers of time. Take, for example, the History of Travel Clock.

The History of Travel Clock was designed in 1939 and 1940 and constructed by the brothers in 1941 and 1942. It is made of white oak, white birch and butternut woods.

This clock depicts travel in several different ways. At the bottom, there is a large boat sailing the open water, representing travel by water. Above the boat, there is a horse-drawn wagon and an automobile, depicting travel by land.

The design is tied together with a bird with its wings spread on top.

The most mesmerizing aspects of this particular clock are tiny statutes of musicians who move along a circular track through two open archways.

Then there is the American Pioneer History Clock, nicknamed the 'Million Dollar Clock.” As Shirley Francis, expert tour guide and master of things clock related, tells it, Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford had his eye on a particular clock.

'One year, Henry Ford read about the clocks,” Francis said. 'So he decided he was going to travel to Iowa and go see the museum. When Henry Ford saw this one clock, he decided, he just had to have this clock.

'So he offered the brothers a million dollars for the clock. Well, a million dollars didn't mean anything to Henry Ford, he had plenty of money, and a million dollars didn't mean anything to the Bily Brothers. They turned him down.”

The clock is notable for its vivid depiction of Father Time at the very center of the clock. It also features a carving of a bell on top, in addition to carvings of men, horses and a boat.

Oh, and this eight-foot-tall clock weighs more than 500 pounds.

Museum visitors can see the Creation Clock, the first timepiece the brothers carved, in 1913, as well as the Parade of Nations Clock, built to represent nations and religions around the world.

Equally impressive is a display of tools used by the brothers - some of which they made themselves - to build their intricate clocks, including dental picks.

Asked about the value of the clocks, the museum tour guides say it would be impossible to estimate. And they are not for sale - to you or Henry Ford.

The only items visitors can purchase can be found in the gift shop.

A visit to the museum also is a chance to learn about Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, who with his family lived in the building during a visit in summer 1893. On the second floor are displays of Dvorak memorabilia.

IF YOU GO

What: Bily Clocks Museum & Antonin Dvorak Exhibit

Where: 323 S. Main St., Spillville

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m., Sunday during the months of May through October. In other months, visitors can call to arrange tours.

Admission: $8. For more information, call (319) 562-3569 or go to www.bilyclocks.org.

More on Spillville:

' Spillville, in Winneshiek County, was founded in 1854 by Joseph Spielman, according to the museum's website.

' The town was first named Spielville, and later changed to Spillville.

' The 2013 population estimate of Winneshiek County was 20,994, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.