Bell Tower
The bell tower at Capitol Drive Lutheran Church stands high above West Capitol Drive in Milwaukee’s northwest Capitol Court neighborhood. Donated by Mr. & Mrs. H. J. Schuster, the belfry and tower were dedicated in the October, 1956, in memory of their young son who had passed away.
Adorning the top of the bell tower is a metal cross that reminds us of Christ's victory over sin and death. The tower is attached to the church at the northeast section of the building with the cross and bell tower a distinct part of the church’s architecture. The tower, which stands adjacent to the altar and pulpit, is clearly visible to travelers on West Capitol Drive.
Petit and Fritsen Bells
There are ten bells high in the belfry which form a Chime of bells. A chime is a group of eight to ten bells in diatonic scale. (A Carillon has 25 or more bells while a collection of fewer than eight bells form a peal. Complete carillons contain five and a half octaves formed by 72 bells.) The bells were cast in Aarle-Rixtel, Holland by the Petit and Fritsen Bell Foundry. The bell foundry dates to 1660 as the oldest family owned business in The Netherlands.
Inscribed on each bell is a decorative exterior with the Petit and Fritsen foundry name along with the Aarle-Rixtel city name around the upper portion of the bell. Each bell has Martin Luther’s Seal inscribed on the “reverse” side while the following memorial is inscribed on the front:
In Loving Memory of Richard Lee (Buzzy) Schuster - 1940 - 1955
“Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 19, 14
The name of the “Rev. J H. Baumgaertner, Pastor - 1956" is inscribed on the reverse of the largest bell. The casting on the lower portion of each bell reads, “The I.T. Verdin Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.”
Church Bells
The I.T. Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio served as architect and contractor for the installation of the bells, mechanical action, and electric operating systems.
The bells are cast by the Petit and Fritsen Bell Foundry, Aarle-Rixtel, Holland.
The composition of metal is 20% virgin tin and 80% virgin copper.
Bell # 1 - 880 lbs., 34" diameter; key of B flat.Bell # 2 - 640 lbs., 31" diameter; key of C.
Bell # 3 - 440 lbs., 27" diameter; key of D.
Bell # 4 - 365 lbs., 26" diameter; key of E flat.
Bell # 5 - 265 lbs., 21" diameter; key of F.
Bell # 6 - 190 lbs., 20" diameter; key of G.
Bell # 7 - 165 lbs., 19" diameter; key of A flat.
Bell # 8 - 147 lbs., 19" diameter; key of A.
Bell # 9 - 132 lbs., 18" diameter; key of B flat.
Bell # 10 - 110 lbs., 17" diameter; key of C.
Repair and Upkeep
Prior to 2000, the 44 year old bells remained operable without any major problems. Considering that they are raised in an open tower some 60 or 70 feet above ground means that reaching them is not for the faint-hearted. However, by the turn of the millennium, the bell tower had come into disrepair as the automatic Westminster Tune and call to worship peals no longer worked and two of the bells operate while others sounded weak. With prayerful consideration by the congregation, the bells were restored to operational condition in 2002 by the Lee Manufacturing Company of Oak Creek, WI.
Ringing the Chime of Bells
The bells, as installed in 1956, were designed to be rung by a “simulator” that allowed for automatic playing of the Westminster Tune and Angelus peals along with a call to worship peal. A small electric keyboard console next to the organ in the sanctuary allowed the organist to play the bells as apart of the worship service.
Today, the original keyboard console has been integrated into the electronic upgrades of the belfry. An Apollo Master Clock allows many possibilities including the call to worship, Westminster Tune, and a funeral peal. A secondary keyboard has been installed that allows for the recording and automatic playback of hymns.
Schedule
The 56 year old belfry rings the Westminster Tune every day (except Sunday mornings) every hour on the hour from 9am to 9pm. The call to worship peals each Sunday morning for both morning services. The belfry will soon play hymns as appropriate to the season at high noon and 5pm. There are no concerts planned at this time.
Revised Spring, 2009
Bell Tower
The bell tower at Capitol Drive Lutheran Church stands high above West Capitol Drive in Milwaukee’s northwest Capitol Court neighborhood. Donated by Mr. & Mrs. H. J. Schuster, the belfry and tower were dedicated in the October, 1956, in memory of their young son who had passed away.
Adorning the top of the bell tower is a metal cross that reminds us of Christ's victory over sin and death. The tower is attached to the church at the northeast section of the building with the cross and bell tower a distinct part of the church’s architecture. The tower, which stands adjacent to the altar and pulpit, is clearly visible to travelers on West Capitol Drive.
Petit and Fritsen Bells
There are ten bells high in the belfry which form a Chime of bells. A chime is a group of eight to ten bells in diatonic scale. (A Carillon has 25 or more bells while a collection of fewer than eight bells form a peal. Complete carillons contain five and a half octaves formed by 72 bells.) The bells were cast in Aarle-Rixtel, Holland by the Petit and Fritsen Bell Foundry. The bell foundry dates to 1660 as the oldest family owned business in The Netherlands.
Inscribed on each bell is a decorative exterior with the Petit and Fritsen foundry name along with the Aarle-Rixtel city name around the upper portion of the bell. Each bell has Martin Luther’s Seal inscribed on the “reverse” side while the following memorial is inscribed on the front:
In Loving Memory of Richard Lee (Buzzy) Schuster - 1940 - 1955
“Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 19, 14
The name of the “Rev. J H. Baumgaertner, Pastor - 1956" is inscribed on the reverse of the largest bell. The casting on the lower portion of each bell reads, “The I.T. Verdin Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.”
Church Bells
The I.T. Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio served as architect and contractor for the installation of the bells, mechanical action, and electric operating systems.
The bells are cast by the Petit and Fritsen Bell Foundry, Aarle-Rixtel, Holland.
The composition of metal is 20% virgin tin and 80% virgin copper.
Bell # 1 - 880 lbs., 34" diameter; key of B flat.
Bell # 2 - 640 lbs., 31" diameter; key of C.
Bell # 3 - 440 lbs., 27" diameter; key of D.
Bell # 4 - 365 lbs., 26" diameter; key of E flat.
Bell # 5 - 265 lbs., 21" diameter; key of F.
Bell # 6 - 190 lbs., 20" diameter; key of G.
Bell # 7 - 165 lbs., 19" diameter; key of A flat.
Bell # 8 - 147 lbs., 19" diameter; key of A.
Bell # 9 - 132 lbs., 18" diameter; key of B flat.
Bell # 10 - 110 lbs., 17" diameter; key of C.
Repair and Upkeep
Prior to 2000, the 44 year old bells remained operable without any major problems. Considering that they are raised in an open tower some 60 or 70 feet above ground means that reaching them is not for the faint-hearted. However, by the turn of the millennium, the bell tower had come into disrepair as the automatic Westminster Tune and call to worship peals no longer worked and two of the bells operate while others sounded weak. With prayerful consideration by the congregation, the bells were restored to operational condition in 2002 by the Lee Manufacturing Company of Oak Creek, WI.
Ringing the Chime of Bells
The bells, as installed in 1956, were designed to be rung by a “simulator” that allowed for automatic playing of the Westminster Tune and Angelus peals along with a call to worship peal. A small electric keyboard console next to the organ in the sanctuary allowed the organist to play the bells as apart of the worship service.
Today, the original keyboard console has been integrated into the electronic upgrades of the belfry. An Apollo Master Clock allows many possibilities including the call to worship, Westminster Tune, and a funeral peal. A secondary keyboard has been installed that allows for the recording and automatic playback of hymns.
Schedule
The 56 year old belfry rings the Westminster Tune every day (except Sunday mornings) every hour on the hour from 9am to 9pm. The call to worship peals each Sunday morning for both morning services. The belfry will soon play hymns as appropriate to the season at high noon and 5pm. There are no concerts planned at this time.
Revised Spring, 2009