Just as it prepares for the biggest enhancement in its 50 years, the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower in Jefferson will celebrate its 50th birthday on the same month and date of its first dedication, Oct. 16.
The Bell Tower Community Foundation invites the public to attend the birthday party that starts at 2 pm Oct. 16 at the Bell Tower Plaza.
“We want the public to join with us to enjoy a celebration not only of the tower’s history but also its future, “ said Carole Custer, president of the foundation. The foundation recently completed the tower’s 50th birthday Let The Bells Ring campaign to raise funds to add 18 new bells to complete the 4-octave carillon.
Music will play a big role in the Sunday afternoon party. The Greene County High School Band and the Town and Country Band will perform a prelude concert at 2 pm followed by a 2:30 pm reenactment of the tower’s dedication ceremony 50 years ago with local county residents representing the original dignitaries.
The Greene County Singers and the Jefferson First United Methodist Church’s hand bell choir will also perform.
To be unveiled and read by Jefferson native poet and sculptor David Williamson will be the 50th birthday collaborative Mahanay Moments and Memories poem that was created from memories of the tower submitted by the public.
Donors of past purchased bells as well as those who have recently purchased bells and made donations to the Let the Bells Ring campaign will be recognized.
Special guests will also include representatives of people and companies involved in the design and construction of the tower 50 years ago and those who have worked tirelessly for decades to make the tower a unique landmark for the city and county.
Free birthday cake, created by the Ram Bakery, Greene County High School; Bell Tower Blend coffee by Greene Bean Coffee; and water and lemonade provided by Jefferson Fareway will be served at the end of the program.
In observance of the celebration, rides to the top of the tower will be free that day.
Nine of the original bells and 15 additional bells purchased but not installed were recently removed from the tower and the Greene County courthouse and trucked to the Verdin Company in Cincinnati, OH for refurbishing. The 18 new bells are being cast in the Netherlands and all 47 bells will be installed in the tower next spring, in time for the 2017 Bell Tower Festival. Verdin Company employees have already installed some additional framework at the top of the tower to hold all the bells, with painting scheduled to be done soon.
Jefferson Telecom will air “Bell Tower Past and Future” on Channel 9 Oct. 14 and 16 at 6 pm. The program was originally presented at the Greene County Historical Museum last summer.
