The Bells of St. Mary's Construction photos & Latest News
Construction of the bell tower kicked off May 23, 2022
See the latest News
at the bottom of this page.
Construction Photo gallery
In the fall of 2021, lines for the electricity were laid as preliminary work began on the bell tower. In late April 2022, pre-work for the tower construction began with excavation.
See the updated construction photos here.
New photos will be added each day beginning May 23, 2022.
Electricity is needed for the bell tower so that the bells can be rung automatically rather than by ropes
Trenching of the lines to the cemetery's maintenance shed through the historic grounds
The power is brought to the cemetery maintenance shed where it will then be connected to the bell tower after completion of the monument
The first bit of dirt is excavated to begin the process of building the foundation of the bell tower. This began the week of April 25, 2022 as the ground thawed in spring
An excavator peels away dirt to make way for the base of the new bell tower. Construction will begin in May and is expected to be completed by July
Jentges Excavation carved out the area where the bell tower will soon stand. Main construction will begin May 23rd, weather provided
Along with the tower, all roads in the St. Mary's Cemetery will also be rebuilt as part of the Bells of St. Mary's Project
.Permitted and ready for construction
May 23, 2022, official construction begins with the creation of a foundation for the bell tower
Preparing steel for the tower construction, May 23, 2022
.Preparing for concrete to arrive to form the foundation for the bell tower
May 24, 2022, the first concrete is poured for the bell tower foundation
May 24, 2022, concrete work being done
.May 24, 2022, concrete poured and ready to be cured
.May 26, 2002- Concrete is poured for the foundation of the legs.
May 27, 2022, the concrete cures over the Memorial Day weekend
The pillars that will form the bell tower were pre-cast at International Concrete in Germantown, WI
Pillars are prepared at International Concrete and await arrival at the cemetery for installation the week of May 29th.
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.As the tower construction is underway, the cleaning and modification of the bell ringer continue.
The modern electrified ringer is installed in one of the bells. The bells will ring from this new method rather than using pulls and ropes.
The bells will be ready for their August 13, 2022 dedication.
The new Bell Tower!!!
On June 1, 2022, after two years of work by the Bells of St. Mary's committee and donations from all over the country, the new bell tower for the Bells of St. Mary's arrived in St. Mary's Cemetery. They were put up and on their new site in anticipation of the historic bells that would soon hang inside the tower that overlooks the historic and sacred grounds.
May 31, 2022, the footings are covered in anticipation of the next day's deliveries
The first leg of the tower is put into place on the morning of June 1, 2022
The second leg of the tower is put into place
The third leg of the tower is brought into place by a crane
The top of the tower, which has the same look of the steeple of St. Mary's Church is assembled and ready to be lifted
The crane prepares the top of the tower to be lifted into place
Almost looking complete, the tower's top is put into place. All the tower needs now is the three bells, scheduled to arrive back in Lake Church within days
The Bells Arrive
On June 3, 2022, the refurbished bells arrived in St. Mary's Cemetery ready to be hung in the new bell tower. Then on June 7th, they were placed into the new bell tower.
The bells arrive on the same trailer they left Lake Church
Their natural color restored, the stunning bells made mostly of copper are unloaded
The medium sized bell
Made in 1887, the largest bell shines in the Lake Church sunlight on June 3, 2022. After 135 years, the bell is ready for its new home
Unloading the large bell with the new tower in the background
Workers fit the large bell in at the top of the bell tower on Tuesday, June 7, 2022
The second bell is placed into the tower
The three bells are in place and ready to be fitted with the electric wiring to allow them to ring once again all over Lake Church
Ground breaking ceremony
On November 14, 2021, an official ground breaking ceremony took place in St. Mary's Cemetery where the new bell tower will be built in the spring of 2022. The construction project has begun!!!
Bob Hubing (Right) President of the Bells of St. Mary's organization addresses the crowd at the ground breaking ceremony on November 14, 2021. Fr. Gideon of the Divine Savior Parish stands behind him
Fr. Gideon leads the crowd in a prayer to bless the project and has success and safety for the workers
Kevin Peiffer, Patrick Wester and Nathan Wester listen to Fr. Gideon prior to the official ground breaking begins.
Bells of St. Marys members prepare for the ground breaking
Cold weather dis not deter the members of the parish for the ground breaking ceremony
The bell tower location will be at the east end of the St. Mary's Cemetery
Fr. Gideon says a closing prayer after the ground breaking ceremony
One of the bells that will be preserved and placed in the new bell tower located in the St. Mary's Cemetery in 2022
Fr. Jim Weyker accepts the school bell May 16, 2021
Fr. Jim Weyker will take the refurbished school bell to Tanzania where it will be installed in a new Catholic School and rung again to bring children to class.
