The only clue to the exact year the clock may have been installed is furnished by the date 1867 on the bell. The words "Meneelys, Troy New York" are the only clues to the manufactures.
Years have changed the purpose of the clock. Although it is not now the official timepiece of the school, its clang, heard for blocks around, rings a summons in the cool, morning hours to the students, and then cheers them as the days's work is finished.
J.W.
**** if you google Meneely Bell Troy New York, you can find additional information about this company.****
After concluding his triva question thingy, I noticed in my 1973 yearbook another interesting tid-bit as related to the Arsenal Tower Bell. I don't know the exact date but the bell was removed from the tower by a large industrial crane. In this yearbook on page 157 are four images and the following text with each image:
The early morning hours of August 3, 1972 proved unlucky for the Arsenal Tower when lightning sruck the Civil War Arsenal and caused $60,000.00 Damage!
Damage to the tower was not as great as to the roof, where the support legs of the bell were destroyed!
After the fire a crane was used to remove the 450-pound bell from the six story tower.
The one hundred year old bell rest on the ground instead of the third floor of Arsenal. That's were it would have ended up if the roof had given in.
(4 nice images are included in this overview)
Furthermore it was brought to my attention by Mr. Glenn Holle, Class of 1951 that the Class of 1950 made donations to have the Arsenal Tower Clock & Bell, with all of it's related mechanical devices restored to proper working order. I think this was in 2000.
