Word has been received that forty-two bells will be arriving in Jefferson on Wednesday, May 24 & Thursday May 25.  The first bells will arrive around 7 a.m. The large transporter from the Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio will bring the bells directly to the downtown square.  Residents are encouraged to come out and enjoy this historic occasion.

Since August of 2016, there have been just five bells left in the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. Nine bells were taken down by a large crane and transported to the Verdin facility to have the strikers replaced.  These nine bells will be returned along with the remainder of the bells purchased by donors. The total of 47 bells will constitute a full four octave carillon.

The Verdin Company expects it will take quite a few days to hoist the bells to the top of the tower with a large crane.  Other electrical and roof work will be completed by the crew during this time, so the carillon is planned to be in working order by May 31.

 

The 2017 Mahanay Bell Tower staff is ready to greet visitors for the season.  Pat Richards begins her fourth year as tour guide coordinator.  Pat’s enthusiasm for the community is contagious, and she is a terrific ambassador for Greene County.  Her husband, Kevin Richards is often seen helping her with activities at the tower.  Kids know these two as Mr. & Mrs. Richards as they have both been long-time teachers in the school system.

John and Jane Rowland enjoy meeting the many visitors and pointing out the history of the community.  John is a retired social studies teacher from the Greene County schools and Jane retired from Power Lift in Jefferson.  They also love to welcome alumni back home.

Lynn and Rachel Gunderson have moved to Jefferson in recent years and enjoyed learning about the many businesses and activities of the area.  They welcome people to the tower and share their great impressions with the visitors.

Michele Hardin and Pam Thomsen are both recent retirees of the Greene County Community Schools.  Their outgoing personalities make visitors feel so comfortable as they share the history of the tower.

Shelly Berger begins her second year as a Tower tour guide.  Shelly retired from the Greene County Medical Center and has enjoyed meeting people in this new environment.  She and her husband are very involved in volunteer activities in the community.

Alan Robinson resides in Grand Junction and works part-time in Jefferson, helping out at the tower when he can.  Alan is a history buff and enjoys sharing his knowledge of the Tower and the area with visitors.