The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-02-26
Historic Church Bell
Priced by Park Hill
AS Frontier MementO

Special to The world.
TAIILEQUAH--A historical and
valuable mcmento OF the early days
OF the old Parkhll nelghborhood.
and more particularly OF the mission
school and church In existence at
that place for many years. IL the
church bell now mounted on n plat
form in front OF the Parkhill Pres
bytcrian church. with one possible
exception this bell Is the oldest In
the state of Oklahoma. Seventy-five
years have passed since first its deep
and melodious notes were heard and
quite probably there Is no one now
living who can recall tho occasion of
its first ringing.
As Il is known 60 those who are
As Is known to those who are
among the Cherokees. the Park I'M
school and church came into exist
ence IN 1891, on u hillside overlook
| ing the Campbell spring, 40 named
in honor OF an old Cherokee leader
of note in the early days. That was
before there was such a name as
| Park Hill, but soon after the mission
was placed In operation, Its superin-
| tendent, Rev. Samuel Newton. was
out for n stroll or n ride, one day,
and became so impressed with the
/
| and woodlands and with the boauti-
| ful little prairie with its elm groves
and its verdant grass interminglei
with vari-colored flowers. that n
vast natural park was suggested TO
his Imagination. This was further
enhanced when herd OF Wild deer
came into view, cropping at the
heritage along the slopes OF a height
of greater elevation than tho SUR
rounding ranges OF forcst-covercd a
hills. The name Park nm came TO
the mind OF the missionary and that
Is why for the past 90 years that
name has ever been used to deslg-
nate the eminence as well as the old
neighborhood In its vicinity.
After the Reverend MIR. Newton
had taken his departure to other
scenes OF labor there arrived at the
mission, In 1886. the notable Rev
Samuel Worcester, who remained IN
charge until his death in the spring
OF 1859.
Throughout the years since the
establishment OF the mission there
had been no bell for the church, a
fact which during the latter forties
caused number OF people OF the
neighborhood 20 become interest ed
In a plan by which to raise n fund
sufficient to defray the expense OF
having a bell cast and shipped to q
point as near as possible 10 the mis-
sion. Accordingly, n number of per.
sons began the collecting of money
) and with such success that tho pur,
chase OF the bell became possible
ity. The Andrew Meneeley bel
. foundry OF West Troy, New York
received the order and on a day II
, lS47 the bell was hung In a belfr,
} especially prepared. and from tina
= time until the present II has been II
e use except at occasional intervals
I such as the civil war period anC
. during a period when recasting be
I came necessary This was becaus,
A OF the fact that when the old Fore
Q man church was burned In January
q 1885 the bell was melted by tn,
a fierce heat and after cooling was
: shapelcss mass
: The recastlng was done at thi
O original foundry and the same in
n scription upon tho first bell was re
i tained upon the new. or rather upoi
the bell IA recast. Though a few
pounds lighter, the present bell /
practically the same as to tone an,
l. old citizens who can recall havinI
" heard the bell rung In the days be
ie fore the civil war are agreed that 1t