The Meneely Bell Foundry was a bell foundry established in 1826 in West Troy (now Watervliet), New York, by Andrew Meneely. Two of Andrew's sons continued to operate the foundry after his death, while a third son, Clinton H. Meneely, opened a second foundry across the river with George H. Kimberly in Troy, New York in 1870. Initially named the Meneely Bell Company of Troy, this second foundry was reorganized in 1880 as the Clinton H. Meneely Company, then again as the Meneely Bell Company. Together, the two foundries produced about 65,000 bells before they closed in 1952.Meneely Bell Online Museum
Bell locations
Meneely Bell Foundry Selected bells attributed to the West Troy foundry. SiteImageDatesLocationCountryDescriptionBoys' Camp, Camp Mini-Yo-WeHuntsville, OntarioCanadaOriginally cast for Mountainside Gospel Chapel in Mountainside, New Jersey. Later donated to Camp Mini-Yo-We upon amalgamation with Liquid Church.St. Lawrence Hall1849 castToronto, OntarioCanadaUnused and virtually inaccessible in the cupolaWesley Knox United ChurchWoodville, Nova ScotiaCanadaRoddick Gates, McGill UniversityMontreal, QuebecCanadaSaint Anthony's Church (Svateho Antonina)1918 purchasedStrossmayerovo Namesti, PragueCzech RepublicFirst Baptist Church1869 cast 1887 repaired 1963 movedHuntsville, AlabamaUnited StatesDonated by deacon James Hamilton to Enon Baptist Church downtown. Later moved to current site.Church of the NativityMenlo Park, CaliforniaUnited StatesSaint Joseph Parish (Mountain View, California)Mountain View, CaliforniaUnited StatesStriker replaced in 2018. A-frames scheduled for replacement in 2024.San Jose State University1881 cast Rehung 1910 and 1960sSan Jose, CaliforniaUnited StatesCast to commemorate the California State Normal School. Weighs 3,000-pounds. Silenced after an earthquake in 1903. Re-installed in Tower Hall in 1910 and rung on special occasions. Later retired and relocated to ground level due to seismic concerns.St. Mary Catholic ChurchBethel, ConnecticutUnited StatesBulkley Memorial CarillonDanbury, ConnecticutUnited StatesLupton Hall Carillon, Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta, GeorgiaUnited StatesFaith Chapel1901 castJekyll Island, GeorgiaUnited StatesChapel built 1904Lovely Lane Chapel, Epworth By The Sea1881 castSt. Simons Island, GeorgiaUnited StatesLacon Congregational Church1890 castLacon, IllinoisUnited StatesSt. Paul Lutheran Church1860s purchasedPontiac, IllinoisUnited StatesRock Island Arsenal Clock Tower1867 castRock Island, IllinoisUnited StatesWeighs 3,538 poundsUniversity of Northern Iowa1926 dedicatedCedar Falls, IowaUnited StatesMattawamkeag Church of GodMattawamkeag, MaineUnited StatesJoseph Dill Baker Memorial CarillonFrederick, MarylandUnited StatesBaker ParkPlainville Historical Commission1905 castPlainville, MassachusettsUnited StatesFirst Presbyterian Church of Saline1846 castSaline, MichiganUnited StatesWeighs 1601 pounds. After installation, rang in the New Year of 1847 in New York. Rang in the new location in Saline, MI in 1898. Mounted approx. 60ft high on 8x8 timber.Laingsburg United Methodist Church1881 castLaingsburg, MichiganUnited StatesImmanuel Lutheran ChurchMadison, NebraskaUnited StatesThompson Hall (University of New Hampshire)Durham, New HampshireUnited StatesOriginal church was located on Greenwood Ave. Later relocated behind the "new" church on Dodgingtown Road.Columbia High School (New Jersey)Maplewood, New JerseyUnited StatesLarge bell chimes the hourSt. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic ChurchNew Brunswick, New JerseyUnited StatesNewton Presbyterian ChurchNewton, New JerseyUnited StatesFirst United Methodist Church of Toms River1853 castToms River, New JerseyUnited StatesCast for Second Church Building. Moved to Third Church Building in 1874. Moved to Fourth Church Building in 1970s.Friendship Fire Company #11875 castWoodbury, New JerseyUnited StatesCreated for the Woodbury Fire AssociationReformed Dutch Church of ClaverackClaverack-Red Mills, New YorkUnited StatesSaint Michael's Church (Rochester, New York)1847 castRochester, New YorkUnited States2 bells weighing 1,015 pounds and 525 poundsSt. Anthony's ChurchAlbany, New YorkUnited StatesFirst Presbyterian Church1848 castAvon, New YorkUnited States33", 700 pound bellFirst Presbyterian ChurchPurchased 1834Ballston Spa, New YorkUnited StatesPurchased for $100 on March 4, 1834Carlisle Presbyterian ChurchCarlisle, New YorkUnited StatesCentral United Methodist ChurchEndicott, New YorkUnited StatesJamesville Community MuseumJamesville, New YorkUnited StatesCreated for the former 1878 Episcopal churchSt. Andrew's Catholic ChurchNorwood, New YorkUnited States3,100-pound bell of ingot copper and East India tinChurch of the Ascension1873 cast 1888 resoldRockville Centre, New YorkUnited StatesCast for Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, New York. Sold back to the foundry and resold to Church of the Ascension.Saugerties LighthouseSaugerties, New YorkUnited StatesPhi Sigma Kappa, Gamma Tetarton Chapter (Troy, NY)1882 dedicatedTroy, New YorkUnited StatesThe building was originally St. Francis DeSales Church. Dedicated by Rev. William A. Drum.Vernon Center Presbyterian Church1844 castVernon Center, New YorkUnited StatesWest Point Cadet ChapelWest Point, New YorkUnited StatesKing Avenue United Methodist ChurchKing Avenue United Methodist ChurchColumbus, OhioUnited StatesMt. Zion Baptist ChurchPortland, OregonUnited StatesFormerly Deutsche Congregationale Zion Kirche (German Congregational Zion Church)St. Peter Cathedral (Erie, Pennsylvania)Erie, PennsylvaniaUnited StatesChrist Episcopal Church (Reading, Pennsylvania)1874 castReading, PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSet of 10 bellsTrinity Church (Newport, Rhode Island)Newport, Rhode IslandUnited StatesNational Patriots Bell Tower carillonValley Forge National Park, PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSt. Matthew's German Evangelical Lutheran Church1901 cast 3 bells added 1966Charleston, South CarolinaUnited StatesSet of 10 bells. All bells refurbished in 2008 by Christop Paccard Bellfoundries.Wofford CollegeSpartanburg, South CarolinaUnited StatesFirst United Methodist Church (Crockett, Texas)1859 cast 1901 movedCrockett, TexasUnited StatesSaint Stephen's Episcopal ChurchSherman, TexasUnited StatesCathedral Church of St. MarkSalt Lake City, UtahUnited StatesSaint Peter's Catholic ChurchRutland, VermontUnited StatesWilder CenterWilder, VermontUnited StatesEastern State Hospital Medical Library, Building No. 31866 castWilliamsburg, VirginiaUnited StatesSignified curfews and special events at the nation's oldest psychiatric hospital
Second Meneely bell foundry Selected bells attributed to the Troy foundry:
Meneely & Kimberly Meneely Bell Company of Troy Clinton H. Meneely Company Meneely Bell Company
SiteImageDatesLocationCountryDescriptionSt. Andrew's United ChurchMarkham, OntarioCanadaSainte-Marthe-De-Vaudreuil Catholic ChurchQuebecCanadaParish Church of San Andres XeculTotonicapanGuatemalaHume Memorial Church (A.F.C.C) Congregation1914 castAhmednagar, MaharashtraIndiaTunghai UniversityTaichungTaiwanCast for Miss Elsie PriestVeterans Park1874 cast 2010 installedPoway, CaliforniaUnited StatesSchofield Barracks Soldiers Chapel1911 castWahiawa, HawaiiUnited StatesDavis County Courthouse1879 castBloomfield, IowaUnited StatesMeneely & KimberlySt. Patrick's Catholic Church1910 castOgden, KansasUnited StatesFirst Baptist Church1859 castClinton, LouisianaUnited StatesCushing Academy1890 castAshburnham, MassachusettsUnited StatesClinton H. MeneelyMinneapolis City Hall1895 cast 1924 castMinneapolis, MinnesotaUnited States10 bells cast in 1895 4 bells cast in 1924
1 bell supplemented from Petit & Fritzen in 1972St. Joseph's Catholic Church1918Waite Park, MinnesotaUnited StatesMeNeely Bell CompanyChurch of the Sacred Heart1872 castWaseca, MinnesotaUnited StatesMeneely & KimberlyJasper County Courthouse (Missouri)1895 castCarthage, MissouriUnited StatesBillings First Congregational Church1889 cast 1957 rehungBillings, MontanaUnited StatesClinton H. MeneelyWells College, Main Building1922 castAurora, New YorkUnited States9 bellsSt. Ann & the Holy Trinity ChurchBrooklyn, New YorkUnited StatesAssumption ChurchAssumption-St. Paul Church1922 dedicatedStaten Island, New YorkUnited StatesMorehead-Patterson Bell TowerCHAPEL HILL : USA - NC1930s castChapel Hill, North CarolinaUnited StatesMeneely Bell Company. 12 bells supplemented by two bells from Petit & Fritsen in 1998.Cortland Elementary School1876 castCortland, OhioUnited StatesMeneely & KimberlyPhelps SchoolMalvern, PennsylvaniaUnited StatesThe "Victory Bell"Spartanburg Town Bell1880 cast 2026 restoredSpartanburg, South CarolinaUnited StatesOpera House 1881-1907, County Courthouse 1907-1958, storage 1958-1979, freestanding clock tower 1979-2025, currently on display in downtown library. Weighs 1,200 pounds.University of Washington, Denny Hall1861 castSeattle, WashingtonUnited StatesThe Denny Bell
Notable bells
Columbian Liberty Bell
Harr Wagner received a letter from William Osborne McDowell, stating that his wife, Madge Morris Wagner was appointed honorary member of the committee to create and direct the use of the Columbian Liberty Bell to be rung at the World's Fair. The bell was to be made up of slaves' chains from all parts of the world and contributions of silver, gold and copper money. It was to be cast at Troy, New York. The idea, expressed in one of Wagner's poems, was adopted as the fundamental motive in the casting of the bell, hence her appointment to an honorary position on the committee having the work in charge.
The Columbian Liberty Bell was cast by Clinton H. Meneely's foundry for display at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. The bell disappeared while on tour in Europe.
Saint Anthony’s Church Bell, Prague, Czech Republic The Meneely bell that hangs in St Anthony's Church in Prague was purchased by the Mid-European Union in October 1918 to commemorate the independence of Czechoslovakia after World War I and donated to the group's president, Thomas Masaryk, who became the head of the country's provisional government and, in 1920, the Czechoslovak president. The bell cost $2,000 and weighed 2,542 pounds (1,155 kg).
See also Benjamin Hanks (1755–1824), goldsmith and instrument maker Campanology: Carillons (a concise chapter in the general article Campanology) Bell tower
References
External links
Meneely Bell Online Museum The Meneely Foundry in West Troy, Troy United Newsletter, December 1999