-
-
- - - -
MORTON SCHOOL - - -
- Sharon
Twp., Richland Co., School District # 1
-
-
- Restoration
News
-
- While
work on the interior of Morton School House was ongoing
- throughout
2001, the first major visible event in the restoration
- of
the exterior of the school occurred on March 30, 2002, when a
- reconstructed
bell tower was lifted into position atop the old
- schoolhouse.
Under construction during the early months of
- 2002,
the bell tower is just the first step in a process that will
- soon
return Morton Schoolhouse to a condition similar to
- it's
appearance
in the first quarter of the 1900's.
-
- As
the bell tower was nearing completion, there was a growing
- concern
that it might be a bell tower without a bell. A severe
- storm
in the 1970s removed a large portion of the schoolhouse
- roof,
greatly weakening the original bell tower structure and
- necessitating
major repairs to the school building as well. The
- bell
tower was removed at this time and the school bell was
- sold
as well as many school desks that had been stored in the
- attic
of the school. All attempts made to locate the original
- Morton
School bell were unsuccessful. The best remaining
- depiction
of the Morton bell and bell tower is a picture
- taken
in the late 1940s of one of Genevieve
- Griffith's
Morton School classes.
-
-
- Morton
School
- ca.
late 1940s
-
-
- This
picture was the basis for the replication of the bell tower
- and
provided guidelines in the search for the bell. Many helped
- in
the attempt to locate the Morton bell but there has been no
- indication
that the original bell remains in this area. A bell from
- another
local one-room school provided critical information
- needed
for the construction of a mounting surface within the
- new
bell tower that would be suitable for a possible future bell
of
- the
Morton school type. Just as the tower construction was
- nearing
it's final phase, former Shelby Mayor Mr. Henry Cline
- and
his wife Elsie called to offer the use of their school bell.
It
- has
been a part of their family for over fifty years. They have
- moved
many times during that period and have always made
- a
special place for their bell.
-
-
- The
Cline Bell at it's previous home
-
- It
had been the Cline's plan to donate the bell to the Shelby
- Museum
but when they heard of the search for the Morton
- School
bell, they kindly offered the use of the bell to the
- Morton
School Project. It can be used at the schoolhouse for as
- long
as the school has a need for it. If for any reason the school
- no
longer uses the bell, it will then go to the Shelby Museum.
-
-
-
- Former
Shelby Mayor Henry Cline inspects his bell's new home
-
- Morton
School committee member Ambrose Metzger cleaned
- the
bell and mounted it in the newly finished bell tower. The
- Cline's
bell is visually identical to the one that previously
- occupied
the old Morton School (as seen in the above 1940s
- photo)
and is a perfect fit.
-
-
-
- Installation
Day
- March
30, 2002
-
-
- Arrival
-
- The
weight of the completed structure with the mounted bell
- assembly
is approximately 1360 pounds. Attachment to the
- schoolhouse
requires securing the "legs" of the base to two 13
foot,
- 6
by 8 1/2 inch beams located just under the roof in the attic.
-
-
- Lift
off
-
- The
assembly would have to be raised directly over the peak of the
- roof
and then carefully lowered so that each of the "legs"
would fit
- through
the 4 holes cut in the sheet metal roof. This would require
- careful
positioning and the ability to lower the structure in a near
- vertical
fashion.
-
-
- Steady
as she goes. . .
-
- After hearing about
the project, Charles Gwirtz of Gwirtz Crane
- Services volunteered
to donate his time and equipment to this project.
- On this sunny,
but extremely gusty Saturday morning, he arrived with
- the crane and raised
first the base and then the roof section and perfectly
- positioned them
as they were firmly secured to the building.
-
-
- Final
Touch
-
- After
the upper section was lifted and mounted on the base, the
- roof
top flagpole was attached and Old Glory once again waved
- above
Morton school.
-
-
-
- Bell
Ringing
-
-
- The First
Bell Ringing
- (l to
r) Ted Clabaugh, Pat Baird, Henry Cline, Ambrose Metzger,
- Richard
Wheeler, Dean Morse, Fred Mc Kinney Sr.
-
- Several
former students of Morton School were on hand to watch
- the
proceedings, and joined in when Mr. Cline entered the schoolhouse
- to
ring the new Morton School bell for the first time.
-
- Everyone in attendance
appeared to be quite pleased with
- the sound of the
school bell ringing once again after so
- many years of silence!!
-
-
- March
30, 2002
-
- The
day closed with a golden sunset and many happy memories
- of
this first step and with the thoughts of the many more to come.
-
-
-
- Morton
Schoolhouse Easter 2002
-
- We
wish to thank Mr. Henry Cline and his wife Elsie for the
- kind
donation of their bell as well as for their many helpful
- suggestions
and comments.
-
- Mr.
Charles Gwirtz donated the use of his crane equipment
- and
expertise in the raising of the bell tower.
- We
couldn't have done this without him.
-
-
-
-
- A
Big Morton School Thank You!
-
- The
Morton School Restoration project would not be a reality
- without
the support of the people in the Shelby area community.
- Many businesses,
organizations, and groups have joined to help us!
-
- The
Richland
County Foundation
and the Shelby
Foundation
- have
matched the funds that have been raised for this project.
-
- Thank
you, too, to all those who came to watch, help,
- and
share in our excitment!
-
- We
are grateful for all your support!
-
- The
Friends of Morton School Committee
-
-
-
-
- What's
next?
If
you have additional information that you would like to add to
this page, we
- would
be happy to hear from you. Please email us!!
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