Dublin Core
Title
Bliss House Museum with Bell from Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School
Subject
Sugar Grove School Bell, Sign installed by Danny Moore (L) and Jim Murray (R) 8-17-17
Description
Old Sugar Grove school bell finds new home at Bliss House
Published: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 11:39 a.m. CST
By CHRIS WALKER - editorial@kcchronicle.com
SUGAR GROVE – The old Sugar Grove school bell finally has a new home. Originally located at the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School, which opened in 1906, the bell was recently installed in front of the Bliss House.
https://www.kcchronicle.com/2016/12/07/old-sugar-grove-school-bell-finds-new-home-at-bliss-house/aozmlu/?fbclid=IwAR1Dpaad-kHEh_J4vcfqJCeGVj1YvSSxk_kNMHTeMB04AcO-XuPym5g89Ss
Azim & Sons, Inc., which also relocated the Bliss House from Bliss Road to where it’s now situated at 259 Main St., was hired by Sugar Grove Township to handle the project.
“It’s beautiful,” said Tom Rowe, township supervisor. “It does need a sign so people understand the significance of it, and I think that will come in the spring.”
The bell had been stored in the old bus barn behind the Sugar Grove Township Community Building as well as in the senior center in the Township Building for eight to 10 years before a proper home was chosen.
There had been considerations to display it in front of its old home, but since those are now apartments that didn’t seem to make much sense.
“We thought for a while about what we were going to do with this so we contacted the Sugar Grove Historical Society and they had some interest in it,” Rowe said. “Then it was just a matter of getting a quote and getting it done.”
No restoration work was needed on the bell as it has withstood the test of time. It can still operate but it’s been installed in such a way that it will not ring.
It’s unknown if the bell was installed when the school first opened, although Ruth Frantz, a long-time volunteer with the Sugar Grove Historical Society, has a picture from 1922 that shows the bell.
“I’m not sure how long it had been up there prior to 1922,” she said. “I do remember them taking that down because my husband was one of those who helped take it down. You can still see the enclosure in front of the building of where it was at.”
Since the bell is on display in front of the Bliss House, at 263 Main St., Sugar Grove, visitors can come see it daily.
The Bliss House is open from 1 to 4 p.m. every Tuesday, or by appointment. Call 630-466-9726 for information.
Published: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 11:39 a.m. CST
By CHRIS WALKER - editorial@kcchronicle.com
SUGAR GROVE – The old Sugar Grove school bell finally has a new home. Originally located at the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School, which opened in 1906, the bell was recently installed in front of the Bliss House.
https://www.kcchronicle.com/2016/12/07/old-sugar-grove-school-bell-finds-new-home-at-bliss-house/aozmlu/?fbclid=IwAR1Dpaad-kHEh_J4vcfqJCeGVj1YvSSxk_kNMHTeMB04AcO-XuPym5g89Ss
Azim & Sons, Inc., which also relocated the Bliss House from Bliss Road to where it’s now situated at 259 Main St., was hired by Sugar Grove Township to handle the project.
“It’s beautiful,” said Tom Rowe, township supervisor. “It does need a sign so people understand the significance of it, and I think that will come in the spring.”
The bell had been stored in the old bus barn behind the Sugar Grove Township Community Building as well as in the senior center in the Township Building for eight to 10 years before a proper home was chosen.
There had been considerations to display it in front of its old home, but since those are now apartments that didn’t seem to make much sense.
“We thought for a while about what we were going to do with this so we contacted the Sugar Grove Historical Society and they had some interest in it,” Rowe said. “Then it was just a matter of getting a quote and getting it done.”
No restoration work was needed on the bell as it has withstood the test of time. It can still operate but it’s been installed in such a way that it will not ring.
It’s unknown if the bell was installed when the school first opened, although Ruth Frantz, a long-time volunteer with the Sugar Grove Historical Society, has a picture from 1922 that shows the bell.
“I’m not sure how long it had been up there prior to 1922,” she said. “I do remember them taking that down because my husband was one of those who helped take it down. You can still see the enclosure in front of the building of where it was at.”
Since the bell is on display in front of the Bliss House, at 263 Main St., Sugar Grove, visitors can come see it daily.
The Bliss House is open from 1 to 4 p.m. every Tuesday, or by appointment. Call 630-466-9726 for information.
Identifier
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Date
2016
Creator
Lisa
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