how the bell was raised
It was spring of 1857. The construction of the new house of worship was at its end and it was time to add the bell to the belfry.
A new 1000 pound bell, cast in Troy, New York, arrived in Harrisburg by train on a flat car. The word-of-mouth story goes, “The Linglestown Road wa nothing but dirt and mud that Spring. It took a six-horse team to pull the wagon and they often got stuck making their way fro Harrisburg. They used large timbers to hoist it from the ground to the roof, which was on a slant, and then ropes and tackle blocks pulled it up into place.”
To ring the bell, the sexton climbed up into the attic to activate the clapper with a short rope. Later, a longer rope allowed the bell to be rung from the gallery of the sanctuary.
