{"id":5257,"date":"2015-04-30T14:25:59","date_gmt":"2015-04-30T21:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sdafoundation.com\/alumni\/?page_id=5257"},"modified":"2024-09-13T14:26:31","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T21:26:31","slug":"our-bell-tower","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sdafoundation.com\/alumni\/history\/our-bell-tower\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Bell Tower"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fall 1960<\/strong>: The bell tower is built by Mr. Elwyn L. Booth, father to Larr\"\"<\/a>y Booth (\u201855), Mary Diane Booth (\u201858), and Dennis Neal Booth (\u201861).<\/p>\n

According to his son Dennis, Mr. Booth talked his fellow contractors into donating the bricks, mortar and labor needed to build the tower. The bell was used to celebrate campus victories.<\/p>\n

1986-87<\/strong>: Ila Decker Piel (’61), chair of the high school’s 50th anniversary committee, spearheads a campaign to replace the original bell, which was severely damaged. ASB fundraisers and donations from the anniversary committee pay for the bell.<\/p>\n

\"Bell<\/a>

Our bell tower as it appeared in August 2008.<\/p><\/div>\n

June 1987<\/strong>: The new bell is hung and officially rung for the first time during the 1987 commencement ceremony. In order to protect the bell from vandalism, louvers are installed that hide the bell from view.<\/p>\n

Fall 2008<\/strong>: “The Mystery of the Bell Tower<\/a>” is published in Mustang Memories<\/em>, describing the history of the bell tower. It includes an assurance from the Foundation that the tower would not be torn down during the construction of the new Performing Arts Center.<\/p>\n

As far as the school administration and Foundation understand, the bell tower will remain in place but will need some rehabilitation due to its deteriorating condition.<\/p>\n

\"forklift<\/a>

April 23, 2010. We were unaware that the bell tower was to be dismantled, so it was a huge shock to see the cupola in the jaws of this machine.<\/p><\/div>\n

April 23, 2010<\/strong>: A maintenance crew begins to dismantle the tower, to the surprise and dismay of the school administration, students, parents and Foundation staff. Considerable panic ensues.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

Bell Rescue Squad, l-r: Kevin Shaw (’10), Wood Shop teacher Jeff Germano, Principal, Principal Mike Grove, and Metal Shop teacher Jason Berend.<\/p><\/div>\n

At Principal Mike Grove’s request, the cupola is placed in the Wood Shop area, where the bell is removed for safekeeping. (Members of the Bell Rescue Squad included Jeff Germano, Jason Berend, Michael Grove, and Kevin Shaw, ’10.)<\/p>\n

May 2010<\/strong>: The bell is placed on display in the Principal’s office. The damaged cupola is repaired and put back on the top of the tower. More details in this Spring 2011 Mustang Memories<\/em> newsletter article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

June 9, 2010<\/strong>: John Addleman, Director of Planning & Financial Management at the District Office spoke with me about the bell tower. The main points covered during our conversation:<\/p>\n