The Bells of Iowa State: Iowa Time Machine December 28, 1899

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On December 28, 1899, workers carefully lifted ten bronze bells from England into position atop a 110-foot campanile tower in the heart of Iowa State's campus. The installation marked the completion of a grief-stricken husband's grand gesture of love, creating an acoustic landmark that would sound across campus for the next 125 years.

The campanile was constructed in 1897 as a memorial to Margaret MacDonald Stanton, Iowa State's first dean of women, who died on July 25, 1895. Edgar Stanton, who graduated with Iowa State's first class in 1872, had spent half a century on campus in various roles, including head of mathematics, dean of the junior college, vice president, and four separate stints as acting president. When Margaret died after nearly 25 years of service to the university, Edgar sought a memorial that would ensure students would never forget her contribution.

The state legislature appropriated $7,500 for construction, and Des Moines architect George E. Hallett designed a free-standing bell tower built from locally sourced brick. The campanile stands 110 feet tall on a 16 by 16-foot base and cost $6,510.20 to construct. Edgar then purchased ten scientifically tuned bells from the renowned John Taylor Bell Foundry in Loughborough, England, arranging for their transatlantic journey and installation in the completed tower. The first tune ever rung on the original ten-bell chime in 1899 was “Home Sweet Home.”

The campanile's bells faced an existential threat in 1991 that revealed just how deeply the tradition had embedded itself in Iowa State culture. When longtime carillonneur Richard von Grabow retired, budget cuts prevented the music department from hiring a replacement. The bells fell silent until Kenn McCloud, a local radio DJ who had never attended Iowa State, locked himself inside the campanile and refused to leave until residents raised $10,000 to fund guest performances. Within five days, the community donated over $10,000. #Iowa #History #OTD #Bells #Music