Jump to content

McFarland Memorial Bell Tower: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
+image
No edit summary
 
(41 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox building
{{Infobox building
| name = McFarland Memorial Bell Tower
| name = McFarland Carillon
| alternate_names = {{unbulleted list|McFarland Bell Tower|McFarland Memorial Bell Tower}}
| former_names =
| image = UIUC Bell Tower.jpg
| alternate_names =
| building_type = [[Bell tower]] housing a [[carillon]]
| status =
| cost = $550,000 (bells)
| image = McFarland Memorial Bell Tower.jpeg
| owner = [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]]
| image_alt =
| location = [[UIUC Main Campus#South Quad|South Quad]]
| caption =
| location_town = [[Urbana, Illinois]]
| map_type =
| location_country = United States
| map_alt =
| inauguration_date = October 22, 2010<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://aces.illinois.edu/news/mcfarland-carillon-brings-music-aces-quad |title=McFarland Carillon Brings Music to the ACES Quad |date=September 28, 2010 |work=ACES News |access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref>
| map_caption =
| height = {{convert|185|ft}}
| altitude =
| architect = Fred Guyton
| building_type = Carillon bell tower
| architecture_firm = Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc.
| architectural_style =
| other_designers = [[Petit & Fritsen]] ([[bellfounding]])
| structural_system =
| cost =
| ren_cost =
| client =
| owner =
| current_tenants =
| landlord =
| location = South Quad, [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]]
| address =
| location_town =
| location_country =
| coordinates = {{coord|40|6.20|N|88|13.655|W|display=inline,title}}
| groundbreaking_date =
| start_date =
| completion_date =
| opened_date =
| inauguration_date =
| renovation_date =
| demolition_date =
| destruction_date =
| height =
| antenna_spire =
| roof =
| top_floor =
| other_dimensions =
| floor_count =
| floor_area =
| seating_type =
| seating_capacity =
| elevator_count =
| main_contractor =
| architect =
| architecture_firm =
| structural_engineer =
| services_engineer =
| civil_engineer =
| other_designers =
| quantity_surveyor =
| awards =
| designations =
| ren_architect =
| ren_firm =
| ren_str_engineer =
| ren_serv_engineer =
| ren_civ_engineer =
| ren_oth_designers =
| ren_qty_surveyor =
| ren_awards =
| url =
| embedded =
| references =
}}
}}


The '''McFarland Memorial Bell Tower''' is a 185-foot bell tower that was built on the South Quad of the The [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]].
The '''McFarland Memorial Bell Tower''' is a {{convert|185|ft|adj=on}} [[bell tower]] located on the [[UIUC Main Campus#South Quad|South Quad]] of the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]]. The tower was approved by the University's trustees in 2005 and built in 2008-2009. It was designed by Fred Guyton of Peckham, Guyton, Albers & Viets.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cornish |first1=Sabryna |last2=Forrest |first2=Sharita |url=http://news.illinois.edu/II/05/0721/bot.html |title=Trustees Discuss new Hotel/Restaurant |work=Inside Illinois |date=July 21, 2005}}</ref> The carillon has 48 bells.


== History ==
==History and description==
[[File:McFarland Carillon University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign closeup.jpg|thumb|Close-up of the bells, September 20, 2013]]
The original design of the tower was going to be used as a renovation of [[Altgeld Hall]] that had been planned since 1998, but was soon canceled because the renovation was not currently possible.
The carillon project began as an attempt to upgrade and renovate the [[Altgeld Chimes]] of [[Altgeld Hall]] Tower, until it became clear that this would not be possible. A free-standing [[campanile]] had been considered as a possibility for the campus since 1913.<ref name=explore>[http://explorecu.org/items/show/178#.UnQoyuJWe8A "McFarland Bell Tower"] on ''Explore CU''</ref> The funding for the project came from Harold Richard "Dick" McFarland, a graduate from the university's College of Agriculture in 1952. After the death of his wife Sarah "Sally" McFarland due to ovarian cancer, McFarland donated $1.5 million for the construction of the tower, which would be named in her honor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Missy |title=Local man funds bell tower construction |work=Daily Illini |date=September 3, 2008 |url=http://www.dailyillini.com/features/article_9a047380-7ad3-5073-ae9a-7adb59f7b0b5.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131101225331/http://www.dailyillini.com/features/article_9a047380-7ad3-5073-ae9a-7adb59f7b0b5.html |archive-date=November 1, 2013}}</ref>


The carillon's 48 bells were cast by the [[Petit & Fritsen]] bell foundry and were transported to the United States via boat. The total cost of the bells was estimated at $550,000.<ref name=explore/>
The original funding for the project came from H. Richard McFarland, who had graduated from the College of Agriculture in 1952. McFarland had previously been known for his contributions for the construction of the ACES library and also granting two scholarships per year to students with farm-related backgrounds. McFarland and his wife, Sarah "Sally" McFarland, were both wanting to fund the construction of a Presbyterian church on campus when she died of ovarian cancer in 2003. After her death McFarland donated $1.5 million for the construction of the tower which would be named in her honor.


Local residents and students have attempted to climb the tower, and at least one has fallen while attempting the climb. <ref>{{cite news |last=Kiser |first=Michael |title=UI student injured after climbing and falling from bell tower |url=https://www.news-gazette.com/news/ui-student-injured-after-climbing-and-falling-from-bell-tower/article_07840dbc-c6d5-51fa-98f7-9b57b83654fa.html |work=News Gazette |location=Champaign, IL |date=October 13, 2017 |access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref>
== Architecture ==
The tower houses 48 bells that were cast in the Netherlands, and were originally meant for Altgeld Hall. The bells are played by an electronic system that is run by a piano-like keyboard that can play over 500 songs.


== "Eye of Sauron" prank ==
=="Eye of Sauron" prank==
In the early hours of Saturday, September 20, 2008, students hung a replica of the "Eye of Sauron" in the top half of the tower. The eye is from [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s novel ''The Lord of the Rings'' and is a symbol of evil and oppression.
In the early hours of Sunday, September 21, 2008, students hung a replica of the "[[Eye of Sauron]]" in the top half of the tower. The eye is from [[J.&nbsp;R.&nbsp;R. Tolkien]]'s novel ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and is a symbol of the principal antagonist. The University of Illinois Police did not identify the pranksters. The eye was removed from the tower the next morning. <ref>{{cite news |url=https://dailyillini.com/article/2008/09/no-suspect-in-sight-for-eye-of-sauron-prank |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307131309/https://dailyillini.com/article/2008/09/no-suspect-in-sight-for-eye-of-sauron-prank |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |title=No Suspect in Sight for Eye of Sauron Prank |newspaper=Daily Illini |date=September 23, 2008 |first=Stephen |last=Spector}}</ref>


==See also==
According to the Assistant Chief of University Police, so far{{when|date=March 2012}} no suspects have been caught.
* {{annotated link|Shafer Tower}}
* {{annotated link|Moser Tower and Millennium Carillon}}
* {{annotated link|Cook Carillon Tower}}
* {{annotated link|Century Tower (University of Florida)}}

==References==
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|McFarland Carillon|position=left}}
* [http://www.towerbells.org/data/ILURBAN2.HTM Entry on TowerBells.org]



{{University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus}}
* [http://news.illinois.edu/II/05/0721/bot.html]
* [https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/ActuarialScienceClub/newsletters/alumni/2008_fall.pdf]
* [http://www.uillinois.edu/clips/october-15-2004.pdf]


[[Category:Bell towers in the United States]]
[[Category:bell towers in the United States]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]]
[[Category:buildings and structures of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]]
[[Category:carillons]]
[[Category:clock towers in Illinois]]
[[Category:tourist attractions in Champaign County, Illinois]]
[[Category:towers completed in 2009]]

Latest revision as of 21:16, 24 October 2023

McFarland Carillon
Map
Alternative names
  • McFarland Bell Tower
  • McFarland Memorial Bell Tower
General information
TypeBell tower housing a carillon
LocationSouth Quad
Town or cityUrbana, Illinois
CountryUnited States
InauguratedOctober 22, 2010[1]
Cost$550,000 (bells)
OwnerUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Height185 feet (56 m)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Fred Guyton
Architecture firmPeckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc.
Other designersPetit & Fritsen (bellfounding)

The McFarland Memorial Bell Tower is a 185-foot (56 m) bell tower located on the South Quad of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The tower was approved by the University's trustees in 2005 and built in 2008-2009. It was designed by Fred Guyton of Peckham, Guyton, Albers & Viets.[2] The carillon has 48 bells.

History and description

[edit]
Close-up of the bells, September 20, 2013

The carillon project began as an attempt to upgrade and renovate the Altgeld Chimes of Altgeld Hall Tower, until it became clear that this would not be possible. A free-standing campanile had been considered as a possibility for the campus since 1913.[3] The funding for the project came from Harold Richard "Dick" McFarland, a graduate from the university's College of Agriculture in 1952. After the death of his wife Sarah "Sally" McFarland due to ovarian cancer, McFarland donated $1.5 million for the construction of the tower, which would be named in her honor.[4]

The carillon's 48 bells were cast by the Petit & Fritsen bell foundry and were transported to the United States via boat. The total cost of the bells was estimated at $550,000.[3]

Local residents and students have attempted to climb the tower, and at least one has fallen while attempting the climb. [5]

"Eye of Sauron" prank

[edit]

In the early hours of Sunday, September 21, 2008, students hung a replica of the "Eye of Sauron" in the top half of the tower. The eye is from J. R. R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings and is a symbol of the principal antagonist. The University of Illinois Police did not identify the pranksters. The eye was removed from the tower the next morning. [6]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "McFarland Carillon Brings Music to the ACES Quad". ACES News. September 28, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  2. ^ Cornish, Sabryna; Forrest, Sharita (July 21, 2005). "Trustees Discuss new Hotel/Restaurant". Inside Illinois.
  3. ^ a b "McFarland Bell Tower" on Explore CU
  4. ^ Smith, Missy (September 3, 2008). "Local man funds bell tower construction". Daily Illini. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013.
  5. ^ Kiser, Michael (October 13, 2017). "UI student injured after climbing and falling from bell tower". News Gazette. Champaign, IL. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  6. ^ Spector, Stephen (September 23, 2008). "No Suspect in Sight for Eye of Sauron Prank". Daily Illini. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to McFarland Carillon.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=McFarland_Memorial_Bell_Tower&oldid=1181728089"