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The McFarland Memorial Bell Tower is a
The carillon project began as an attempt to upgrade and renovate the
on ''Explore CU'' The funding for the project came from Harold Richard "Dick" McFarland, a graduate from the university's College of Agriculture in 1952. After the death of his wife Sarah "Sally" McFarland due to ovarian cancer, McFarland donated $1.5 million for the construction of the tower, which would be named in her honor. The carillon's 48 bells were cast by the Petit & Fritsen bell foundry and were transported to the United States via boat. The total cost of the bells was estimated at $550,000. Local residents and students have attempted to climb the tower, and at least one has fallen while attempting the climb.
Entry on TowerBells.org
{{University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus bell towers in the United States buildings and structures of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign carillons clock towers in Illinois tourist attractions in Champaign County, Illinois towers completed in 2009
bell tower
A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell tower ...
located on the South Quad of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The tower was approved by the University's trustees in 2005 and built in 2008-2009. It was designed by Fred Guyton of Peckham, Guyton, Albers & Viets. The carillon has 48 bells.
History and description
The carillon project began as an attempt to upgrade and renovate the Altgeld Chimes
The Senior Memorial Chime, known more commonly as the Altgeld Chimes, is a 15-bell chime in Altgeld Hall Tower on the central campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in Urbana, Illinois, United States.
The chime was a gift from th ...
of Altgeld Hall
Altgeld Hall, located at 1409 West Green Street in Urbana, Illinois on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, campus, was built in 1896–97 and was designed by Nathan Ricker and ...
Tower, until it became clear that this would not be possible. A free-standing campanile
A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell tower ...
had been considered as a possibility for the campus since 1913."McFarland Bell Tower"on ''Explore CU'' The funding for the project came from Harold Richard "Dick" McFarland, a graduate from the university's College of Agriculture in 1952. After the death of his wife Sarah "Sally" McFarland due to ovarian cancer, McFarland donated $1.5 million for the construction of the tower, which would be named in her honor. The carillon's 48 bells were cast by the Petit & Fritsen bell foundry and were transported to the United States via boat. The total cost of the bells was estimated at $550,000. Local residents and students have attempted to climb the tower, and at least one has fallen while attempting the climb.
"Eye of Sauron" prank
In the early hours of Sunday, September 21, 2008, students hung a replica of the " Eye of Sauron" in the top half of the tower. The eye is from J. R. R. Tolkien's novel ''The Lord of the Rings
''The Lord of the Rings'' is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's boo ...
'' and is a symbol of the principal antagonist. The University of Illinois Police did not identify the pranksters. The eye was removed from the tower the next morning.
See also
* * * *References
External links
Entry on TowerBells.org
{{University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus bell towers in the United States buildings and structures of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign carillons clock towers in Illinois tourist attractions in Champaign County, Illinois towers completed in 2009