Glencoe Historical Society
at the
Eklund History Center & Garden

The following article was published online in the December 8, 2005 issue of the Glencoe News:

Old Church Bell Will Now Ring At Historical Society

BY ANDREW GOLD
CONTRIBUTOR

A 113-year-old bell that once sat atop the old Central School will now be part of the Glencoe Historical Society’s collections—and provide the society with a dual piece of village history.

Trinity Lutheran Church, which recently closed its doors, has bequeathed the bell to the Glencoe Historical Society to be part of the Eklund History Center’s permanent collection. Before Trinity Lutheran took possession of the bell in the 1930s, it sat atop the old Central School across the street from Trinity at Greenwood and Hawthorn avenues. The gift took the historical society by surprise, and board members are thrilled with their new artifact.

“It is a great addition to the collection to have a bell that served two significant structures in Glencoe,” said Bob Zahniser, society board member. “I don’t know if we have any comparable artifacts from that time.”

In a letter bequeathing the bell to the historical society, Trinity’s pastor, the Rev. W. Gail Rabe, explained the church’s decision: “The displaying of the bell by the Historical Society may help current and future generations remember Trinity and its participation in the spiritual life of Glencoe and the surrounding area for 158 years,” wrote Rabe, who has served at Trinity for 21 years.

While the bell might be displayed inside the Eklund Center, society board members would prefer to construct an outdoor carriage for the bell so it can be rung by current and future Glencoe residents, said Ellen Shubart, historical society president and village trustee.

The Society intends to display the bell in such a way as to honor both of its homes. “This is what Trinity is leaving behind and we want to make sure it is remembered,” Shubart said.

Several relatives of Trinity parishioners related their experiences ringing the bell.

“They could remember ringing the bell and what a big honor it was,” said Shubart.

The bell first sat atop Central School, which at that time was on the site of the school’s current new wing near South Avenue. That building was razed in the early 1930s following the construction of a state-of-the-art structure just to the north of it, which today is the school’s main wing. The exact year of its addition to the school is unknown, Shubart said.

The historical society plans to make the bell a part of its exhibit on Glencoe schools, which will open in February. The exhibit, as yet untitled, also will include books, essays, graduation dresses and photos.

“It will show the development of the schools, both how they have changed and how they have stayed the same,” said Shubart.

Glencoe Public Works Department transported the bell from Trinity to the Eklund Center patio two weeks ago, in what is believed to be the longest trip the bell has made in at least nine decades. A few days later, the bell was stored in the center’s shed.

By the time village officials removed it, the bell was no longer atop the church, but sitting on church grounds covered by a tarp. Trinity had it taken down from its wooden-and-metal carriage during the summer because the carriage had begun to rust, leading the bell to sag onto the church’s roof.

Founded in 1847, Trinity closed its doors because its congregation dwindled to a dozen members. At its final service on Oct. 30, the church distributed its $400,000 in assets to 10 Lutheran charities and the bell to the Glencoe Historical Society.

The church property reverted to its parent organization, the Northern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, which is studying whether it is demographically feasible for another church to open in the space.