Wednesday, July 27, 2022 – WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE TO THE CHAPEL BELL AND PLAZA?
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022
738th Issue
OUR LONG NEGLECTED
AND ABUSED
CHAPEL BELL
Meneely Bell Foundry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There were two Meneely bell founderies, based on either side of the Hudson River in New York state.
The first Meneely bell foundry was established in 1826 in West Troy (now Watervliet), New York,by Andrew Meneely, a former apprentice in the foundry of Benjamin Hanks. Two of Andrew’s sons continued to operate the foundry after his death, and it remained a family operation until its closure.
The second Meneely bell foundry was established in 1870 by a third son, Clinton H. Meneely, across the river in Troy, New York. Initially he was in partnership with George H. Kimberly, under the name Meneely & Kimberly; this second foundry was reorganized in 1879 as the Clinton H. Meneely Bell Company, then later as the Meneely Bell Company.
Like its related competitor, it remained a family operation until its closure. Business cards for both of the competing Meneely bell foundries appearing in the Troy Daily Times May 20, 1891 The two foundries competed vigorously (and sometimes bitterly) with each other.
Together, they produced about 65,000 bells before they both closed in 1952.
1891-05-20 dueling Meneely ads. Our bell was made by Meleely & Co., West Troy. Next time you are at the Farmer’s Market, check out the markings on the bell and hanger.
The bell placed awkwardly on a concrete slab with the inappropriate benches around it. Not a pleasant site, since trash blows into the area and the walk is never power washed.
Kids love to look into the bell to discover there is no clapper.
The Meneely name is on the iron saddle holding the bell at an awkward position.
Stains have not been removed from the bronze.
RIHS Calendar…Coming Events this fall
FREE Roosevelt Island Historical Society Lecture Series in conjunction with the New York Public Library. Attend in person at the NYPL Branch, 504 Main St., or on Zoom. Registration links will be posted.
Tuesday, September 20, 6:30–7:30
Pack Horse Librarians
Before there were bookmobiles, there were Appalachian women who delivered books, Bibles and magazines on horseback during the Depression. Jeffrey S. Urbin, Education Specialist and Director of the Pare Lorentz Film Center at the Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, talks about this little known activity of the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
Tuesday, October 18, 6:30–7:30
A Queer History of the Women’s House of Detention
Hugh Ryan, historian and author of The Women’s House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison, sheds light on this Greenwich Village Landmark that, from 1929 to 1974, incarcerated many women simply for the crimes of being poor and insufficiently feminine.
Tuesday, November 15, 6:30–7:30
Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed
Before he was a turncoat, he was an American hero. James K. Martin, Professor Emeritus at the University of Houston and author of Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary Hero: An American Warrior Reconsidered, reveals the strategic genius of Arnold, his essential contributions to the Revolutionary War, and his mistreatment at the hands of his superiors.
Tuesday, Dec. 13, 6:30–7:30
Back Number Budd
Victorians did not consider old periodicals valuable and did not save them, which severely limited the resources of researchers—unless they knew Robert M. “Back Number” Budd. Prize-winning author Ellen G. Garvey, PhD, tells about this African-American dealer who stockpiled millions of newspapers that he collected from hotels, clubs and libraries.
WEDNESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
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TUESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
SARATOGA RACE TRACK ENTRANCE
ED LITCHER, TRACY ROBILOTTO AND LAURA HUSSEY GOT IT RIGHT.
MONDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
(A LITTLE LATE)
THE ROMAN BATHS, BATH ENGLAND
ED LITCHER, LAURA HUSSEY GOT IT RIGHT
Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff
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Historical Society unless otherwise indicated:
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JUDITH BERDY
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