History of the Linden Presbyterian Church Bell
During
2010 as a part of our 150th year celebration of our Linden
Presbyterian Church, we have re-activated the original church
bell now mounted near the street on a base near the front
of our parking lot. We will again enjoy the sound of the
bell as volunteers ring the bell as we did 25 years ago
when we celebrated our 125th year.
Recapping
the history of our bell, since this history all occurred
prior to my membership in this congregation, I'm grateful
and have used for reference excerpts from our first forty
year history book, our centennial history book, the men's
club records and special thanks to many of you who contributed
your knowledge and help.
Mr.
Seth Sadler, an enterprising inn keeper in Linden and who
we have heard about before, in addition to donating the
Church's window glass in the 1860's, purchased and donated
the bell in the 1880's and had it installed in the tower
of the church. Mr. McKay a student was then serving as preacher.
The large bell was produced in Troy, New York in 1882 by
the Clinton N. Meneely Bell Co. It weighs 7751bs. and strikes
the tone o fB above middle C. Bells have been the voices
of history. Imagine what the bell meant to the Church and
to Linden. Long before cell phones and before telephones,
bells became the voice of welcome to worship, a signal of
special events and the toll of death as well. Bells were
also used to call fireman and rescue workers for emergency
situations the town had to face. A bell was also the only
noise a church could make louder than a preacher's voice.
Mr.
Seth Sadler as donor and owner of the Linden Hotel and Bar
and grocery store which also housed Linden's first post
office and also was notary public for Genesee county, must
have been a thorn in the flesh of the church people. But
they evidently respected him, or else just tolerated him,
which is most likely, because they never seemed to refuse
any of his gifts. We don't face this situation today and
so see a note of humor in it all. But we can be assured
it was not the kind of thing that would be found humorous
by all the older members and imagine it provided quite a
choice bit of gossip for the other religious denominations
in and around Linden too. But we can't talk for it's all
a part of our history and past.
In
1922 the original weakening spire of the Church was removed,
but the bell remained in the tower and
continued to be used. Some of our members recall the hanging
rope used to ring the bell that children would play with,
the squirrels that would chew through the rope and the rocking
of the Church when the bell was rung.
Prior
to February 1959, when the new light weight aluminum spire
was installed, the bell was removed and replaced with speakers
for the new carillon housed in the belfry that we enjoy
today. The bell was retired to a planned garden spot outside
behind the Christian Education Building (the manse) and
mounted on a yoke, but was not operational. In 1969 the
Men's club started discussion toward improving the condition
of the bell. The current brick pedestal base was constructed
at a cost of$350 and the bell was mounted in 1971, but was
not activated for use. In addition, a plaque inscribed with
Linden Presbyterian Church 1861-1971 was mounted on the
base toward the street.
In
1985 (14 yrs.later) the hammer was rotated to a functional
position and a chain and bracket fabricated to make the
bell usable again. As part of our 125th year celebration,
volunteer members of the church rang the bell throughout
the year.
This
year (2010) as we celebrate our 150th year the bell was
rung on Sunday Jan 10th prior
to our Scottish heritage service and we plan to ring it
Y:! hr. before and 5 minutes before our first service on
the 1st Sunday of each month and also before special celebration
services throughout the year.
Enjoy
the bell and our 150th year celebration events.
Dennis
Manner Feb. 2010
