Tap the play button to listen to the narration.
The bell in front of you has a long and traveled history! Cast in Boston by William Blake and Company in 1888 for the First Universalist Society in Franklin, it made its way to hang in the bell tower of Grace Chapel, where the Dean College library now stands. Blake, an apprentice to Paul Revere, ran a notable bell foundry, known for the quality of its chimes and bells. Our bell weighs 1,403 pounds and was purchased for $155, which is equivalent to about $5,500 in today’s currency.
When Grace Chapel congregants were preparing for the building’s demolition in 1967, several memorable pieces were saved, including this bell. Over the course of many years, the bell resided with different congregants, being stored in barns. A crane moved the bell to this location in 2001. Since its installation here, the bell has been rung to signal the start of service, in celebration of calling a new minister, for vigils of peace and remembrance, and in solidarity with the interfaith community on special occasions. Now turn to your left and walk across the front of the building, heading down the gravel pathway.