BLANDFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS…
DID YOU KNOW?
The bell that never came from Glasgow, Scotland, honoring the Scots-Irish founders of our town, has long been part of Blandford's origin story. But the historic bell displayed in front of the Blandford Historical Society has a fascinating story of its own.
The Bell with Three Lives
It once hung in the Second Congregational Church in North Blandford, dedicated on July 3, 1894, after an earlier church was destroyed by fire. According to church records, the bell was donated by the Boston & Albany Railroad after serving in the railroad roundhouse in West Springfield. When the church closed in 1965, the bell was donated to the Historical Society.
Cast into its side are the words: "Andrew Meneely, West Troy, N.Y., 1902." The inscription refers to the legendary founder of the Meneely Bell Foundry, established in 1826.
By 1902, Andrew had been dead for more than 50 years, but his sons and grandsons continued operating the company under the Meneely & Co. name. They kept Andrew's name on every bell to preserve the company's prestigious reputation and honor its founder.
Likewise, the foundry continued casting "West Troy" into its bells long after the town's name officially changed to Watervliet. "West Troy" had become internationally synonymous with superior bell making. Retaining the name also helped distinguish the company from a competing foundry nearby operated by another branch of the family, the Meneely & Kimberly Bell Company.
The Centennial Bell in Philadelphia
One of Andrew's sons patented a method of mounting bells on a yoke that allowed them to rotate freely, enabling the clapper to strike different areas of the bell rather than the same spot repeatedly. The design greatly reduced the likelihood of cracking—the fate of the original Liberty Bell.
Ironically, however, he did not win the coveted contract to replace the Liberty Bell. That commission went instead to the competing Meneely family branch, which cast the Centennial Bell installed in Independence Hall in Philadelphia for America's 100th birthday celebration in 1876.
Today, the Centennial Bell hangs in the tower of Independence Hall, while the original cracked Liberty Bell—which last rang in 1846 to celebrate George Washington's birthday—is preserved across the street in the Liberty Bell Center.
Perhaps that's fitting. The bell promised to Blandford never arrived. But one we have today has lived several lives—first on the railroad, then calling a congregation to worship, and then standing watch on the lawn of the Historical Society, where it continues to tell the story of our town and nation.
DID YOU KNOW?
The bell that never came from Glasgow, Scotland, honoring the Scots-Irish founders of our town, has long been part of Blandford's origin story. But the historic bell displayed in front of the Blandford Historical Society has a fascinating story of its own.
The Bell with Three Lives
It once hung in the Second Congregational Church in North Blandford, dedicated on July 3, 1894, after an earlier church was destroyed by fire. According to church records, the bell was donated by the Boston & Albany Railroad after serving in the railroad roundhouse in West Springfield. When the church closed in 1965, the bell was donated to the Historical Society.
Cast into its side are the words: "Andrew Meneely, West Troy, N.Y., 1902." The inscription refers to the legendary founder of the Meneely Bell Foundry, established in 1826.
By 1902, Andrew had been dead for more than 50 years, but his sons and grandsons continued operating the company under the Meneely & Co. name. They kept Andrew's name on every bell to preserve the company's prestigious reputation and honor its founder.
Likewise, the foundry continued casting "West Troy" into its bells long after the town's name officially changed to Watervliet. "West Troy" had become internationally synonymous with superior bell making. Retaining the name also helped distinguish the company from a competing foundry nearby operated by another branch of the family, the Meneely & Kimberly Bell Company.
The Centennial Bell in Philadelphia
One of Andrew's sons patented a method of mounting bells on a yoke that allowed them to rotate freely, enabling the clapper to strike different areas of the bell rather than the same spot repeatedly. The design greatly reduced the likelihood of cracking—the fate of the original Liberty Bell.
Ironically, however, he did not win the coveted contract to replace the Liberty Bell. That commission went instead to the competing Meneely family branch, which cast the Centennial Bell installed in Independence Hall in Philadelphia for America's 100th birthday celebration in 1876.
Today, the Centennial Bell hangs in the tower of Independence Hall, while the original cracked Liberty Bell—which last rang in 1846 to celebrate George Washington's birthday—is preserved across the street in the Liberty Bell Center.
Perhaps that's fitting. The bell promised to Blandford never arrived. But one we have today has lived several lives—first on the railroad, then calling a congregation to worship, and then standing watch on the lawn of the Historical Society, where it continues to tell the story of our town and nation.
Update to this story
American LegionVeteran leader Doug Emo reached out with additional information, which we independently verified. He said the American Legion purchased the Second Congregational Church in North Blandford for $1 in 1950, owned it for the next 20 years, and when the building was sold in 1970, donated the bell to the Blandford Historical Society.
Doug also shared recollections from Legion members John Tucker and Gordon Cady, both involved in the 1950 purchase. They recalled that when the building was sold in 1970, the bell was specifically excluded from the sale, despite the new owner's wish to keep it. Jim Swol, who worked for Forish Construction, brought in a crane to remove it.
Doug said many of the World War II veterans were still active in the Legion when he joined. They loved the church, using it for meetings, Christmas parties, card games, and awards and scholarship presentations. Eventually, the Legion sold it because it was difficult to heat and needed a lot of work.
Holbrook Bell
High in the belfry of The White Church hangs another Blandford treasure—an 1835 Holbrook bronze bell with a remarkable pedigree.
It was cast by one of America's premier bell foundries, founded by Major George Holbrook (1767–1846), who learned the craft in Paul Revere's Boston foundry, where he worked for half his life before establishing his own foundry in 1816 at age 49. Revere died just two years later, in 1818. The White Church bell was cast during the company's golden years, when Major Holbrook worked alongside his son, Colonel George Handel Holbrook (1798–1875), who later succeeded him.
A gifted musician and member of Boston's Handel and Haydn Society, Colonel Holbrook revolutionized American bell-making by applying scientific harmonic tuning. His innovations transformed bells from simple signaling devices into musical instruments celebrated for their rich, harmonious tone.
Holbrook bells are prized and can be found at Harvard, Yale, Brown and Dartmouth.
Thanks to the careful stewardship of BHS and the support of generous donors and fundraising events, this bell, now about 191 years old, still rings on special occasions—most recently in honor of America's 250th birthday.
Blair Road Bell
We're not done yet!
The Shea family, former Blandford residents who lived on Blair Road about 30 years ago, stumbled upon a bell in the woods while hiking near their home. Measuring just four inches in diameter, it bears no markings and looks as good as the day it was found. At the time, they were told there may once have been a schoolhouse nearby.
Now that's a story for another day.
American LegionVeteran leader Doug Emo reached out with additional information, which we independently verified. He said the American Legion purchased the Second Congregational Church in North Blandford for $1 in 1950, owned it for the next 20 years, and when the building was sold in 1970, donated the bell to the Blandford Historical Society.
Doug also shared recollections from Legion members John Tucker and Gordon Cady, both involved in the 1950 purchase. They recalled that when the building was sold in 1970, the bell was specifically excluded from the sale, despite the new owner's wish to keep it. Jim Swol, who worked for Forish Construction, brought in a crane to remove it.
Doug said many of the World War II veterans were still active in the Legion when he joined. They loved the church, using it for meetings, Christmas parties, card games, and awards and scholarship presentations. Eventually, the Legion sold it because it was difficult to heat and needed a lot of work.
Holbrook Bell
High in the belfry of The White Church hangs another Blandford treasure—an 1835 Holbrook bronze bell with a remarkable pedigree.
It was cast by one of America's premier bell foundries, founded by Major George Holbrook (1767–1846), who learned the craft in Paul Revere's Boston foundry, where he worked for half his life before establishing his own foundry in 1816 at age 49. Revere died just two years later, in 1818. The White Church bell was cast during the company's golden years, when Major Holbrook worked alongside his son, Colonel George Handel Holbrook (1798–1875), who later succeeded him.
A gifted musician and member of Boston's Handel and Haydn Society, Colonel Holbrook revolutionized American bell-making by applying scientific harmonic tuning. His innovations transformed bells from simple signaling devices into musical instruments celebrated for their rich, harmonious tone.
Holbrook bells are prized and can be found at Harvard, Yale, Brown and Dartmouth.
Thanks to the careful stewardship of BHS and the support of generous donors and fundraising events, this bell, now about 191 years old, still rings on special occasions—most recently in honor of America's 250th birthday.
Blair Road Bell
We're not done yet!
The Shea family, former Blandford residents who lived on Blair Road about 30 years ago, stumbled upon a bell in the woods while hiking near their home. Measuring just four inches in diameter, it bears no markings and looks as good as the day it was found. At the time, they were told there may once have been a schoolhouse nearby.
Now that's a story for another day.
This is the Meneely Bell from the North Blandford Congregational Church that now sits in front of the Blandford Historical Society Building.
Blair Road Bell found in the woods by the Shea Family
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The White Church Holbrook Bell
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Close Up of the White Church Holbrook Bell
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Blandford 'Did You Know?' researched and written by Jane Rohman