The Lincoln Academy belfry awaits its removal the morning of Oct. 6, 2023. (Dylan Burmeister photo, LCN file)
The project to restore the Lincoln Academy bell tower and replace the historic belfry is underway, and will hopefully be completed before the start of school in September.
Since the removal of the iconic bell tower in October 2023, the school has been assessing the scope of the project and fundraising to raise the bell again. In addition to the timeline being established, the total cost of rebuilding the belfry, refurbishing the bell, and fixing structural issues with the tower has finally been released at $350,000, less than expected.
“It’s exciting to be able to move forward with this important project,” said Heather D’Ippolito, Lincoln Academy director of community engagement and development, who has been heading up the capital campaign to raise funds for the bell tower. “The LA bell is a physical representation that bridges our history with our present and future. We’re all looking forward to hearing it ring in celebration again.”
Now that the cost has been finalized, the school will be able to fully proceed with the fundraising efforts for the project. Community businesses, such as First National Bank, have already donated to the project, as well as the LA Boosters, who raised $1,225 through the Boosters Auction and matched that amount, for a total donation of $2,450. Fundraising for the project will also occur at upcoming class reunions and through the community.
The construction project is also now well underway. Both the bell and the belfry were removed due to structural concerns. After removal, the bell was sent away for refurbishment. It turns out the bell was originally cast in a well-known Boston foundry that has cast bells for a number of locations throughout New England, however, it was sent to a foundry in Pennsylvania for refurbishment. It has now been returned to Lincoln and awaits the structural repairs to be completed before it is restored to the tower.
The next phase of the project is the construction of the bell tower. The engineering report assessing the structure of the tower and belfry, which was completed in January, revealed issues with the structural integrity of the tower itself, part of which causes the tilt of the floor of the library annex. This makes it necessary to reinforce the weight-bearing supports for the tower.
Negotiations with the contractor are currently underway, and construction will begin once school is out for the summer. The belfry will be entirely rebuilt as part of the project.
The iconic bell tower weathervane, shaped like an alewife in honor of the many fish ladders nearby, will be recreated by students as part of their applied technology classes in the fall. This weather vane was originally constructed in the 1970s by then-shop teacher Dick Chadwick and mechanical drawing teacher Danny Day, a member of the class of 1965.
“I’m excited to have the bell tower back. Lincoln Academy hasn’t looked the same since it’s been missing,” said Torren Nehrboss, a sophomore.
Like Nehrboss, students, faculty and community members are looking forward to the return of this iconic symbol of Lincoln Academy and to be able to ring the bell again for graduation and championships.
(Audrey Hufnagel is a member of the Talon staff and probably contributed to breaking to bell tower by ringing the bell to celebrate multiple cross country championships. This article appears through a content-sharing agreement with The Eagle’s Talon.)
