Meneely Bell Repair
We learned in 2018 that our 1850 Meneely Bell needed critical repairs. A fundraising campaign led by 16-year old Madeline Herring succeeded in raising funds to repair the bell.
Repairs were completed in 2020 and the bell rings again!
SCOPE OF WORKThe bell itself was in good shape; however, the bell wheel, the headpiece assembly, crown bolts, clapper pin and bell clapper needed to be replaced, and the bell yoke pins and pillow blocks needed to be serviced and lubricated.
St. John’s bell is stamped 1850 and was made by the world-class Meneely Bell Foundry in West Troy, New York, known today as Watervliet, New York. The Meneely Foundry was started in 1826 by Andrew Meneely, one of the greatest bell makers in American history. To this day, there are Meneely bells on every continent on the planet except Antarctica. St. John’s bell weighs approximately 1,400 pounds and is 39” in diameter. It was installed in 1851 and is the Church’s third bell.
Miss Madeline Herring, 2019-2020 State President of the Virginia Society of the Children of the American Revolution (CAR).
