This Old Bell
Back in 1886, the C.S. Bell Company of Ohio cast a bell using what they called Crystal Steel (a steel alloy - which was very rare - only two companies at the time were using alloys). The #3. Well, in fact, they cast about 20,000 bells annually. They made farm bells, school bells, factory bells, fire bells, and just about any bell you wanted. They were sold through Sears & Roebuck catalogs, with their largest bell (54" diameter) selling for $375 in 1921. That's a whopping $5,400 in today's money, accounting for inflation! Refurbished C.S. bells today run from $350 to $5,000.
The particular bell I am most interested in is worth more to the family than the money. You see, this one saved my grandparent's lives back in the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak on April 11, 1965.
How this bell came to be part of the old homestead is lost to history - at least to me. What I do know is that Grandpa was in the barn & Grandma was in the house. Grandma was watching the weather and happened to see the barometer drop drastically. So in order to get Grandpa's attention, she did what she always did - ring the old bell.
The ringing of the bell was a signal that Grandpa was needed in the house - basically it was time to come in. Maybe it was meal time. Maybe Grandma needed help opening a jar. Maybe there was a phone call. It didn't matter. All that mattered was that Grandpa followed the rule and came to the house. And he did.
Grandma explained to him the drop in pressure. They looked to the skies and figured it was time to head for the basement. This saved both of their lives as shortly thereafter, a huge tornado destroyed the ole homestead - house, barn, farm implements, trees and livestock. All destroyed.
When Grandpa exited the basement and saw all the destruction, his attitude as quoted by others to me was, "I have my wife and my life. That's all I need. Everything else can be replaced." What a positive way to look at what must have been a devastating event.
Me? I wasn't even thought about yet. It would take another three years before I was even born. So these stories have been passed along by those who were there.
What about the bell? Well, it was hung at the new house Grandma & Grandpa built - where it has stood for the past 54 years. I can still recall Grandma calling Grandpa from the new barn to the house using that same bell.
Today that bell, made in 1886, is in the barn. It had to be moved for the garage addition we are currently putting up. While it's down, I am taking the time to remove all the old scale, mold, and moss. I have an hour into cleaning it. Why just an hour? I used up all my batteries in the electric drill. They must recharge.
The plan is to clean it and repaint it. Will it get back to its original 1886 glory? Nope don't want it that way. I want it to retain some of its character. Will it be put back up once it's ready? You can sure bet it will. In fact, in today's world of cell phones and texting, the need for the bell to call me in from the barn is outdated. So instead of being put back up by the garage, Sandy suggested putting it in our flower bed next to the 150 year Homestead sign. What a great idea! All that remains is to finish cleaning it, paint it, and concrete its post back in the ground where I hope it stands for another half-century.
What else was going on in 1886?
The particular bell I am most interested in is worth more to the family than the money. You see, this one saved my grandparent's lives back in the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak on April 11, 1965.
How this bell came to be part of the old homestead is lost to history - at least to me. What I do know is that Grandpa was in the barn & Grandma was in the house. Grandma was watching the weather and happened to see the barometer drop drastically. So in order to get Grandpa's attention, she did what she always did - ring the old bell.
The ringing of the bell was a signal that Grandpa was needed in the house - basically it was time to come in. Maybe it was meal time. Maybe Grandma needed help opening a jar. Maybe there was a phone call. It didn't matter. All that mattered was that Grandpa followed the rule and came to the house. And he did.
Grandma explained to him the drop in pressure. They looked to the skies and figured it was time to head for the basement. This saved both of their lives as shortly thereafter, a huge tornado destroyed the ole homestead - house, barn, farm implements, trees and livestock. All destroyed.
When Grandpa exited the basement and saw all the destruction, his attitude as quoted by others to me was, "I have my wife and my life. That's all I need. Everything else can be replaced." What a positive way to look at what must have been a devastating event.
Me? I wasn't even thought about yet. It would take another three years before I was even born. So these stories have been passed along by those who were there.
What about the bell? Well, it was hung at the new house Grandma & Grandpa built - where it has stood for the past 54 years. I can still recall Grandma calling Grandpa from the new barn to the house using that same bell.
Today that bell, made in 1886, is in the barn. It had to be moved for the garage addition we are currently putting up. While it's down, I am taking the time to remove all the old scale, mold, and moss. I have an hour into cleaning it. Why just an hour? I used up all my batteries in the electric drill. They must recharge.
The plan is to clean it and repaint it. Will it get back to its original 1886 glory? Nope don't want it that way. I want it to retain some of its character. Will it be put back up once it's ready? You can sure bet it will. In fact, in today's world of cell phones and texting, the need for the bell to call me in from the barn is outdated. So instead of being put back up by the garage, Sandy suggested putting it in our flower bed next to the 150 year Homestead sign. What a great idea! All that remains is to finish cleaning it, paint it, and concrete its post back in the ground where I hope it stands for another half-century.
This is what it looked like after being sprayed with moss killer
and before being cleaned. You can clearly read the markings of
C.S. Bell & Co., 3, Hillsboro O. (for Ohio)
And here it is after being cleaned for an hour. The print reads
No 3 Yoke, 3, 1886
What else was going on in 1886?
- Grover Cleveland was president.
- Coca-Cola was invented by pharmacist John Pemberton
- After almost 30 years of fighting, Geronimo surrenders in Arizona
- The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in the New York harbor
- The St. Louis Browns defeat the Chicago White Stockings to win the World Series
- Baseball player Ty Cobb was born
- Poet Emily Dickinson & former president Charles A. Arthur die
- Cholera vaccine was invented (nothing yet for the flu, yellow fever, or polio)
- Wheat was $1 per bushel
- Butter was $0.15 per pound
- A cow cost $26
- A good saddle horse would run you $200
What a great blog! Enjoyed hearing the story about your Grandma and Grandpa, the bell, and the tornado again. Wow, the bell looks beautiful all cleaned up! Great job!
ReplyDeleteExcellent story. Fantastic restoration job too. Definitely got to keep that in the family. Looking forward to seeing it next time I visit. D.
ReplyDelete