The day after I visited Jefferson, I actually headed back. This time with Teresa. I wanted to go up in the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. I thought I had been up in the belltower before, but after I got up there it didn’t ring any bells (see what I did there) so I’m pretty sure this was a first for me.

Here are some pictures:

A couple of facts about the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower.

The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, located on the southwest corner of the courtyard, was given to the people of Jefferson and Greene County in accordance with the wills of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Mahanay. The tower is 168 ft. 2 inches high, and it is illuminated by 6 floodlights.

The glass enclosed observation deck at 120 ft. is accessed by an elevator and is fully handicap accessible. At the 2017 Bell Tower Festival, it was named the Paul Nally Observation Deck.

Beginning in 1966, fourteen bells, cast at the world famous Petit & Fritsen bell foundry in Holland in 1966, chimed on the hour, quarter, and half-hour. The electronic carillon bells were played from a manual keyboard. Because of the limited amount of music that could be played with only 14 bells, recorded concerts played two songs after each hour for many years.

The total cost of the tower and the fourteen bells dedicated on Sunday, October 16, 1966 was approximately $350,000.

I have another collection of pictures from this trip left to share.