Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-09-04
THE BELLS OF HARVARD.
"A Succession OF Nine Whose History
covers q Period Of 800 Years.
(New York SUM-

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succession Of bells, nine Of them al
together, two being now in use.
That the very first college building
had n Is shown by an extract from
a book published in 1913, declaring
that every scholar shall be present
In his tutors chambers at the 7th
hour In the morning Immediately af-
ter the sound Of the bell.",
A second bell was presented by a
John Willet and did servicg for a
~ a century. 1t was melted, or at
a badly damaged in the disas-
trous fire Of 1864, when the second
college building, Harvard Hall, was
destroyed. The third structure,
Massachusetts, Hall, was built in
1880, and very soon the treasu-
rer was desired to enquire what
may be the cost of a bell and clock.
proper for the college," Both clock
and bell were bought and the stew
ard got Ga a year for keeping them
in order. This one was described by
an English traveller some years later
as "a very good bell"
Harvard Hall was rebuilt after
the fire, and In 1865 in a new set of
ARTICLES respecting the diet of the
college there is a reference to a
fourth bell. Its fate is shown by an
entry Of January Is, 1898: Voted
that the president and the treasurer
be a committee to procure the re-
casting Of the college bell lately
split"
This fifth bell, like it predeces-
sors, was ordered from England and
weighed about 31S pounds. Two
bells were given in partial exchange
for the lately split one from Har.
ward Hall and the small one from
the clock on Massachusetts Hall.
Apparently vandalism by students
Is no merely modern affair, for it
seems to have been the cause of so
much damage to this fifth bell that
in 1927 the college authorities had
to appoint a committee Ito consider
the most cffectual method of secur-
ing 1t (the bell) against irruption."
On the same date the president was
requested to buy a new bell on as
good terms as possible. This sixth
bell was cast in 1908 by Paul Re-
we're at his foundry in Canton and
weighed ABA pounds.
This II became cracked in 1886
and was replaced the same year by
the seventh bell, which was cast by
George H. H~olbrook, Of East Med
way, Mass, and weighed $50 pounds.
This one, known to most living Har-
ward graduates, had a long and hon
orable career but it, too, finally be-
came cracked in 1890, owing to the
fact that 1T had not been properly
hung. At that time it had been
for f%orty-two years by one man,
the veteran janitor, Mr.. Jones.
When 1t became cracked he kent it
a few years as a relic, but in 1904
he gave it to the Harvard Memorial
Society, which had it broken up, a
part of the bronze being used for
tablets placed on Hollis and Hol-
worthy halls. A small model OF the
old bell, made from its metal, was
to Mr.. Jones.
The eighth bell is the one O
hanging in Harvard Hall. 1t was
by Meneely & Co., West Troy.
Y, and weighs $50 pounds. 1t
was first rung January 7. 1900. The
ninth bell is the fne-toned one in
Hall tower. 1t is ten
times the size Of the early bells Of
college, for it weighs 5000 pounds.
1t was cast by Van Dusen e. Co., Of
and was installed after
commencement, 1897, the gift Of the
class Of 1872.