鐘樓(lou)(lou)后的(de)(de)譙樓(lou)(lou)始建于(yu)元代(dai)至正九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)（1349年(nian)(nian)），它的(de)(de)前(qian)身是(shi)宋(song)淳熙(xi)年(nian)(nian)間建造(zao)的(de)(de)用以(yi)了(le)望(wang)(wang)的(de)(de)戍樓(lou)(lou)。由于(yu)它建在(zai)州(zhou)署(shu)前(qian)的(de)(de)所謂(wei)“子城(cheng)”的(de)(de)城(cheng)門之(zhi)上(shang)，在(zai)當時(shi)(shi)通州(zhou)城(cheng)內屬高(gao)建筑，因(yin)此在(zai)明代(dai)還(huan)有人把“譙樓(lou)(lou)月曉”列為(wei)“通州(zhou)八(ba)景”之(zhi)一(yi)。譙樓(lou)(lou)內設(she)有計時(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)刻漏，并(bing)采用更鼓來報(bao)時(shi)(shi)。清道光(guang)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)，通州(zhou)知州(zhou)周燾將(jiang)譙樓(lou)(lou)維修一(yi)新(xin)，撤去(qu)原來懸(xuan)掛的(de)(de)“海山要郡”匾(bian)額，換上(shang)新(xin)命名的(de)(de)“星(xing)(xing)樞樓(lou)(lou)”樓(lou)(lou)匾(bian)。樓(lou)(lou)名星(xing)(xing)樞，是(shi)依星(xing)(xing)相學說，希望(wang)(wang)因(yin)此使通州(zhou)文化發達(da)、人才(cai)興盛。
民國(guo)三(san)年(nian)(nian)（1914年(nian)(nian)），張謇與(yu)其兄用(yong)南通(tong)(tong)(tong)潘氏捐給通(tong)(tong)(tong)崇海總(zong)商(shang)會的(de)(de)(de)五千元錢在(zai)上(shang)(shang)海買來(lai)巨鐘(zhong)(zhong)，并在(zai)譙(qiao)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)前建(jian)造了(le)鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)。鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)為(wei)(wei)(wei)南通(tong)(tong)(tong)建(jian)筑(zhu)師孫支廈設(she)計，在(zai)風(feng)格(ge)上(shang)(shang)明顯受著(zhu)西方(fang)(fang)藝術(shu)的(de)(de)(de)影響。張謇撰(zhuan)書的(de)(de)(de)“疇昔是(shi)州今是(shi)縣，江淮(huai)之(zhi)委海之(zhi)端”對(dui)(dui)聯，也(ye)被刻(ke)上(shang)(shang)木版懸于樓(lou)(lou)(lou)前，成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)傳頌多時的(de)(de)(de)名作。 鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)成(cheng)，為(wei)(wei)(wei)南通(tong)(tong)(tong)民眾掌握時間提供了(le)方(fang)(fang)便。兩年(nian)(nian)后(hou)，樓(lou)(lou)(lou)上(shang)(shang)又增舔了(le)消防警鐘(zhong)(zhong)，通(tong)(tong)(tong)過警鐘(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)敲擊聲數(shu)來(lai)指示(shi)火災方(fang)(fang)位。另外還配備了(le)代表方(fang)(fang)向的(de)(de)(de)色(se)旗(qi)、色(se)燈，遇(yu)有(you)火情，同時張掛。 隨著(zhu)歷史的(de)(de)(de)演(yan)進(jin)，報(bao)時更鼓、消防警鐘(zhong)(zhong)久(jiu)已消失，而鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)(de)時鐘(zhong)(zhong)卻依然運行。令人欣喜的(de)(de)(de)是(shi)，鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)的(de)(de)(de)形象被設(she)計上(shang)(shang)市徽，成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)南通(tong)(tong)(tong)市的(de)(de)(de)標志。市政(zheng)府公布譙(qiao)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)、鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)為(wei)(wei)(wei)文物保護單(dan)位，這(zhe)對(dui)(dui)保存和利用(yong)這(zhe)一“中(zhong)西合璧”的(de)(de)(de)特殊建(jian)筑(zhu)，了(le)解(jie)南通(tong)(tong)(tong)歷史沿(yan)革，無疑(yi)提供了(le)保障(zhang)。
