Connecticut western news., 1911-01-26
THAT SCHOOL HOUSE BELL
Charlie Marvin Sheds More Light on
 its Disappearance from the BeIfry

~'9IhS "dTNln OnSuS wore Light or
 its Disappearance from the Belfry
 Editor News: The News of late, notice, has been giving us bits of local history, and among other ite ms I note the one relative to the old school house bell, in which it goes on to say MT Samuel A. Eddy and the writer were the naughty boys who, on failing to gain entrance through the sohool-house managed to gain the belfry by the out side way with ladder. no doubt. Suffice 1t to say. as the old saying goes, There is more than one way to skin cat. " and even at this late day, for one, am not going to say how we got there.
 Not in my day, before or since to my knowledge. has Canaan had such a glorious. or wretched, Fourth of July as the one in que stion ,aud the reason there of l will try and explain in the following lines, which will also explain why the bell was taken. But in the so doing, even at this late day, I am not trying to vir dlcate myself or my companions on that memorable night.
 We had just and righteous cause for our acts. Nearly all of us were just at that age when youth was turning to manhood. For years previous we had the American flag and the Fourth of July taught us, but as the day drew near, this particular Fourth, we were greeted with the information that the stores would not lay in stock of fire crackers or other fourth of July goods serves me right, Samuel c. Beckley, who had store in the town hall at that time. as we'll as the other merchants, had formed combine-no powder, no fre- crackers-whereupon we boys made up purse of some S20, which was in- vested in the largest firecrackers obtain able in Great Harrington. The next move was to send to East Canaan for the boys to bring the large cannon, mounted on wheels, and to be on hand at the railroad crossing near Humphreys drug store, at prompt 12, and when they heard the first stroke of the M. E. Church bell to let it boom, and they did.
 The second time it went off the plaster ceiling of the balcony of the old Warner house came off.
 From 12 until a. m. Canaan, or Canaan's bad boy, was let loose. Any thing that would make noise was used, and the school house bell added not a little to the-shall say enjoyment'?.
 It was the time. or rather the night, of our life, and we made the most of it. The next day it was public property. If Canaan stores would not fill up with Fourth of July goods they were to be had elsewhere, but in the following years, up to the time I left Canaan, 8 liberal supply was on hand, but there were other reasons why we did not care whether they had them or not during the following years,
 One reason, and personal one, which by the way may answer for some of the other boys, will in conclusion mention. My aunt, now Mrs. s. M Humphrey, at the breakfast table the next morning turned to me and said:
 Charlie, let me see your hands l''
 1 need not tell the reader, even at this late day, held up my hands so she could see only the backs, whereupon she made the second request, to turn them around, and there were the blisterS. three or four on each hand.
 Whether my other two companions in the M. E. Church tower had blisters or not never knew, but if they had. and they had dads and the same instead of an aunt, I am afraid the three of us would have had blisters all over. As it was, in my case, made promise then and there, it was my first offense and it would be my last, and it has. But for all that, am glad I was one of the boys that night.
 CHARLIE MARVIN.
 Stamford, Conn.