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{{Short description|Bell tower in Purdue University, United States}}
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[[Image:Purdue BellTower.jpg|thumb|150px|Purdue's Bell Tower]]
{{Coord|40.4272|-86.9140|scale:5000|display=title}}
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The '''Purdue Bell Tower''' was constructed in 1995, at [[Purdue University]], through a gift from the class of 1948.
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[[File:Purdue Bell Tower Purdue University 2016 02.jpg|thumb|Purdue's Bell Tower]]
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The '''Purdue Bell Tower''' is a 160-foot tall [[bell tower]] in the center of [[Purdue University]]'s campus. It was constructed in 1995 through a gift from the class of 1948.


== Heavilon Hall Tower ==
== Heavilon Hall Tower ==
[[File:Heavilon Hall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (77518).jpg|thumb|left|Heavilon Hall II (1895–1956)]]
The current Bell Tower's inspiration comes from the [[bell tower]] that was part of the old Heavilon Hall, demolished in 1956. Heavilon Hall was dedicated on January 19, 1894, as part of [[Purdue University College of Engineering|Purdue's Engineering School]]. Four days later, the building caught fire and was destroyed. In light of this tragedy, James H. Smart, Purdue's president at the time, declared that a new tower would go up "one brick higher." Smart's inspirational words have since become a sort of motto for the university. According to legend, however, the bell tower was actually built 9 bricks higher. This second Heavilon tower was completed in December of 1895 with clocks on each of the four sides. On April 8, 1897, four bells were installed. These bells would mark every quarter hour until Heavilon was demolished in 1956.
The current Bell Tower's inspiration comes from the [[bell tower]] that was part of the old Heavilon Hall, demolished in 1956. Heavilon Hall was dedicated on January 19, 1894, as part of [[Purdue University College of Engineering|Purdue's engineering school]]. Four days later, the building caught fire and was destroyed. In light of this tragedy, [[James H. Smart]], Purdue's president at the time, declared that a new tower would go up "one brick higher." Smart's inspirational words have since become a sort of motto for the university. According to legend, however, the bell tower was actually built nine bricks higher. This second Heavilon tower was completed in December 1895 with clocks on each of the four sides. On April 8, 1897, four bells were installed. These bells would mark every quarter-hour until Heavilon was demolished in 1956.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cla.purdue.edu/resources/buildings/heavilon.html |title=Heavilon Hall |access-date=May 5, 2022 }}</ref>


== Purdue Bell Tower ==
== Purdue Bell Tower ==
Through a gift from the class of 1948, a new bell tower was completed in 1995. The new tower stands 160 feet tall and, like the original, has a clock on each of its four faces. The bells from the original Heavilon tower hang at the top of the tower, but a computerized [[carillon]] now marks every half hour and also plays Purdue's [[fight song]]s and the [[alma mater]] at 12:20 pm, 5:00 pm, and 10:00 pm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.purdue.edu/usp/purdue_pride/history.shtml#bell |title=Purdue History |author=Purdue Undergraduate Studies Program}}</ref><ref name=ExpMyths>{{cite news |title=Myths, traditions create student bond |author=Warner, Lyndsey |newspaper=[[Purdue Exponent]] |date=June 11, 2007 |url=http://archive.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=6130 |accessdate=April 10, 2010}}</ref> At the base of the tower is a [[time capsule]] that is to be opened in 2095. [[Image:Purdue BellTowerTimeCapsule.jpg|thumb|150px|The walkway under the tower including the time capsule]]
Through a gift from the class of 1948, a new bell tower was completed in 1995. The new tower stands 160 feet tall and, like the original, has a clock on each of its four faces. The bells from the original Heavilon tower hang at the top of the tower and are struck by electric clappers to ring at the hour, half-hour and end of classes.<ref>{{cite book |editor=Purdue Reamer Club |title=A University of Tradition: The Spirit of Purdue |publisher=Purdue University Press |edition=2nd |year=2012 |orig-year=2002 |isbn=9781557536303 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q0WLyLNc06kC&dq=purdue%20bell%20tower&pg=PA107 |page=107 |access-date=June 25, 2013}}</ref> In addition, a computerized [[carillon]] plays Purdue's [[fight song]]s and the [[alma mater]] at 12:20 pm, 5:00 pm, and 10:00 pm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.purdue.edu/usp/purdue_pride/history.shtml#bell |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308122011/http://www.purdue.edu/usp/purdue_pride/history.shtml#bell |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |title=Purdue History |author=Purdue Undergraduate Studies Program}}</ref><ref name=ExpMyths>{{cite news |title=Myths, traditions create student bond |author=Warner, Lyndsey |newspaper=[[Purdue Exponent]] |date=June 11, 2007 |url=http://archive.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=6130 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317175546/http://archive.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=6130 |archive-date=March 17, 2012|access-date=April 10, 2010}}</ref> At the base of the tower is a [[time capsule]] that is to be opened in 2095. [[File:Purdue BellTowerTimeCapsule.jpg|thumb|150px|The walkway under the tower including the time capsule]]


In 2008, the bell tower was incorporated into the university's emergency [[notification system]]. The tower now contains a [[loudspeaker]] and [[siren (noisemaker)|siren]]s that can be heard outdoors throughout the academic portion of campus.<ref>{{cite news |title=Purdue to test voice recording for bell tower loudspeaker Friday |author=Bush, Jim |newspaper=Lafayette Online |date=January 8, 2009 |url=http://www.lafayette-online.com/purdue-news/2009/01/test-voice-recording-bell-tower-loudspeaker-friday/ |agency=Purdue University News Service |accessdate=April 10, 2010}}</ref>
In 2008, the bell tower was incorporated into the university's [[emergency notification system]]. The tower now contains a [[loudspeaker]] and [[siren (noisemaker)|siren]]s that can be heard outdoors throughout the academic portion of campus.<ref>{{cite web|title=Purdue to test voice recording for bell tower loudspeaker Friday |author=Bush, Jim |newspaper=Lafayette-Online.com |date=January 8, 2009 |url=http://www.lafayette-online.com/purdue-news/2009/01/test-voice-recording-bell-tower-loudspeaker-friday |agency=Purdue University News Service |access-date=April 10, 2010}}</ref>


One legend about the Purdue Bell Tower states that the seal underneath it is cursed, and that any student who walks across the seal will not graduate in four years. It is also said that if a man and a woman kiss under the tower, and then walk past the nearby Stone Lion Fountain, they will eventually be married.<ref name=ExpMyths />
One legend about the Purdue Bell Tower states that the seal underneath it is cursed, and that any student who walks across the seal will not graduate in four years. It is also said that if a couple kisses under the tower, and then walk past the nearby Stone Lion Fountain, they will eventually be married.<ref name=ExpMyths />

On November 27, 2018, during repairs to the tower, one of the clock faces fell from a crane during routine repairs, bounced off the basket of an [[aerial work platform]] holding two workers, and hit the side of the tower on its way to the ground. No people were injured by the falling clock. The incident was captured on video.<ref>{{cite news |title=Time turned fragile: Purdue Bell Tower clock crashes to the ground, no one injured |author=Ellison, Jillian |newspaper=Lafayette Journal & Courier |date=November 28, 2018 |url=https://www.jconline.com/story/news/2018/11/28/purdue-bell-tower-clock-crashes-ground/2137925002/|agency=Lafayette Journal & Courier |access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://engineering.purdue.edu/ECN/AboutUs/FunStuff/Belltower Purdue Belltower] from Purdue's College of Engineering
* [https://www.cla.purdue.edu/resources/buildings/heavilon.html Heavilon Hall and Purdue Bell Tower] from Purdue's College of Liberal Arts
* [http://www4.lib.purdue.edu/spcol/newsreels/1995.html ''Purdue Newsreel 1995: Tower of Strength'']. 22-minute video, beginning with two minutes about the tower's dedication.
* [http://www4.lib.purdue.edu/spcol/newsreels/1995.html ''Purdue Newsreel 1995: Tower of Strength'']. 22-minute video, beginning with two minutes about the tower's dedication.



{{Purdue University campus}}
{{Purdue University campus}}
{{Purdue University system}}
{{PU}}
{{coord missing|Indiana}}


[[Category:Bell towers in the United States]]
[[Category:Bell towers in the United States]]
[[Category:Campaniles]]
[[Category:Towers completed in 1995]]
[[Category:Towers in Indiana]]
[[Category:Clock towers in Indiana]]
[[Category:1995 architecture]]
[[Category:Purdue University buildings]]

Latest revision as of 15:37, 27 September 2024

40°25′38″N 86°54′50″W / 40.4272°N 86.9140°W / 40.4272; -86.9140

Purdue's Bell Tower

The Purdue Bell Tower is a 160-foot tall bell tower in the center of Purdue University's campus. It was constructed in 1995 through a gift from the class of 1948.

Heavilon Hall Tower

[edit]
Heavilon Hall II (1895–1956)

The current Bell Tower's inspiration comes from the bell tower that was part of the old Heavilon Hall, demolished in 1956. Heavilon Hall was dedicated on January 19, 1894, as part of Purdue's engineering school. Four days later, the building caught fire and was destroyed. In light of this tragedy, James H. Smart, Purdue's president at the time, declared that a new tower would go up "one brick higher." Smart's inspirational words have since become a sort of motto for the university. According to legend, however, the bell tower was actually built nine bricks higher. This second Heavilon tower was completed in December 1895 with clocks on each of the four sides. On April 8, 1897, four bells were installed. These bells would mark every quarter-hour until Heavilon was demolished in 1956.[1]

Purdue Bell Tower

[edit]

Through a gift from the class of 1948, a new bell tower was completed in 1995. The new tower stands 160 feet tall and, like the original, has a clock on each of its four faces. The bells from the original Heavilon tower hang at the top of the tower and are struck by electric clappers to ring at the hour, half-hour and end of classes.[2] In addition, a computerized carillon plays Purdue's fight songs and the alma mater at 12:20 pm, 5:00 pm, and 10:00 pm.[3][4] At the base of the tower is a time capsule that is to be opened in 2095.

The walkway under the tower including the time capsule

In 2008, the bell tower was incorporated into the university's emergency notification system. The tower now contains a loudspeaker and sirens that can be heard outdoors throughout the academic portion of campus.[5]

One legend about the Purdue Bell Tower states that the seal underneath it is cursed, and that any student who walks across the seal will not graduate in four years. It is also said that if a couple kisses under the tower, and then walk past the nearby Stone Lion Fountain, they will eventually be married.[4]

On November 27, 2018, during repairs to the tower, one of the clock faces fell from a crane during routine repairs, bounced off the basket of an aerial work platform holding two workers, and hit the side of the tower on its way to the ground. No people were injured by the falling clock. The incident was captured on video.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Heavilon Hall". Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Purdue Reamer Club, ed. (2012) [2002]. A University of Tradition: The Spirit of Purdue (2nd ed.). Purdue University Press. p. 107. ISBN 9781557536303. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  3. ^ Purdue Undergraduate Studies Program. "Purdue History". Archived from the original on March 8, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Warner, Lyndsey (June 11, 2007). "Myths, traditions create student bond". Purdue Exponent. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  5. ^ Bush, Jim (January 8, 2009). "Purdue to test voice recording for bell tower loudspeaker Friday". Lafayette-Online.com. Purdue University News Service. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  6. ^ Ellison, Jillian (November 28, 2018). "Time turned fragile: Purdue Bell Tower clock crashes to the ground, no one injured". Lafayette Journal & Courier. Lafayette Journal & Courier. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
[edit]
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