The most obvious music associated with any church is the sweet and dignified tolling of the church bell. Pictured above is George E. Hipwod, President of the Holy Names Society who presented the bell for placement in the new church.
The bell was manufactured by the Meneely Bell foundry of Watervliet for the former Saint Patrick's Church in 1906. They were the master bell maker at the time. Perched in the tower at an altitude of 125 feet, the bell could be heard throughout the city. Its sweet toned sound is in the key of Bb international pitch i.e.. the bass clef. The instrument weighing 11,000 pounds mounted is made of the purest metal, 78% copper and 22% tin. The bell, a gift from the Holy Name Society cost $3500. It was made and delivered within 60 days of the receipt of the order.
In 1890 the former St. Patrick's church located on the southwest corner of 23rd Street and 4th Avenue become totally inadequate for the number of parishioners. As a result, a new church was built on the north side of Ninteenth Street between 5th and 6th Avenue, a facsimile of the church at Lourdes, France
Heartfelt gratitude to the Nigro Companies and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish for donating the Saint Patrick's Bell to the Watervliet Historical Society. A special thanks also to Streck's Inc., Bonded Concrete, the City of Watervliet, Tom Allison and Water Charitable Foundation for their assistance in making this display possible.
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