Construction
Finished Bell Tower at night, 1971
Construction began in the spring of 1971. The basic shape of the tower was made up of four 120 foot steel beams anchored in a six-foot deep concrete base. The brickwork was done by Boyd Childs, whose crew hauled the “golden buff” bricks up the entire length of the tower. Schulmerich Carillons, Inc was contracted to handle the carillon. The tower features a whole 183 electric bell-metal tone generator carillon instrument which included 61 Flemish, 61 harps, and 61 celeste bell-toned instruments. These smaller bells make up the musical tunes heard around campus during December. There are also four larger full-sized bells, which were hand-cast in Asten, Netherlands, by the Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry. The bells are labeled with the sayings (from the largest bell to the smallest) Scientiam Discite (Learn Understanding), Vitutem Agite (Practice Virtue), Sapientiam Capite (Gain Wisdom), and Deum Amate (Love God). The largest bells weigh about 1,000 lbs, and these are the bells that play the “Westminster chime” every hour.
Second smallest bell with latin saying “Sapientiam Capite” (Gain Wisdom), 1970-1971
Two pylons being lifted into place, 1970
Construction of Bell Tower, c. 1970-1971
Clock faces being lifted into place, c. 1970-1971
Finished Bell Tower, 1971