In 1940 a bell was installed in the tower of the Main Building replacing the
water tank which had been housed there for many years. The bell was cast in St.
Louis, Missouri and was procured for the tower by Brother Lambert Barbier, C.S.C.
The bell, which was used for years as a call to daily mass, is approximately
three feet in diameter and forty inches high. Installation of the bell required
four men to carry it up the three flights of stairs and the two ladders to reach
the tower. In the 1980s the ringing of the bell was replaced by the current carillon
system in St. Joseph’s Hall. Today the bell remains, unused, resting on
the tower floor.
“Mr. Clark, university handy-man supervised the job of moving the 2000
lb. bell to the tower. Uniformed janitors were aided (verbally) by students in
the background.”
St.
Edward's University