For 60 years, the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower has risen above Jefferson’s courthouse square, sounding its bells across the community and becoming one of Greene County’s most recognizable landmarks.
On Sunday, October 18, the community is invited to gather beneath the tower to celebrate six decades of its history and to hear some of the music that helped mark its beginning.
The Mahanay Bell Tower 60th Year Celebration will be held from 2 to 3:30 pm on the plaza at the tower, 100 E. Lincoln Way in Jefferson. The event is free and open to the public.
The afternoon will begin with refreshments served by the Bell Tower Community Foundation, including Better Than Bell Tower cake, coffee and water while supplies last. Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the celebration from the shaded plaza area.
The program begins at 2:30 with Don Van Gilder sharing stories about the construction of the tower in 1966, giving those gathered a glimpse back at the beginnings of a landmark that has become so closely identified with Jefferson and Greene County.
The celebration will also look toward the tower’s future with the introduction of new branding for the Mahanay Bell Tower.
One of the afternoon’s highlights will be a special Tower Tunes Live concert, featuring four local Mahanay Maestros performing selections representing music played at the tower’s original 1966 dedication ceremony.
The concert will feature Rita Rasmussen playing religious selections, Rick Morain performing folk tunes, Rhena Lane presenting classical music and Danille Curtis playing patriotic selections.
The music will offer those attending a rare opportunity to imagine the sounds and spirit of the tower’s dedication 60 years ago, this time performed by musicians from the community the tower continues to serve.
For six decades, the Mahanay Bell Tower has been more than a fixture on the Jefferson skyline. It has welcomed visitors, marked celebrations and stood watch over generations of Greene County residents. On October 18, the public is invited to bring a lawn chair, enjoy a piece of cake, listen to the bells and music, share a few memories and celebrate 60 years of a Greene County landmark.
