One of the oldest, largest, loudest artifacts from early Lawrence is about to get a new home.

Since 1961, the 1,600-pound bell that was hoisted atop Lawrence’s Unitarian Church in 1858 has been on display at Lawrence High School, 1901 La. Now, a group of students wants to give the historic treasure a more accessible home.

The school’s class of 2004 – which graduates the year Lawrence celebrates its 150th birthday – is raising money to build a new display case to give visitors a better look at the bell.

“It’s one of the most historical artifacts we have in Kansas – and definitely in Lawrence,” said Nathan Lindsey, class president. “Every class leaves something behind for the school, but we’re leaving something behind for our entire community.”

The idea for the display originated with Paul Stuewe, an LHS history teacher who also is helping organize the city’s sesquicentennial birthday celebration.

It wouldn’t be the first time a fund-raising effort for the bell was undertaken.

Stuewe said Unitarian Church members in Boston raised enough money in 1856 to have the bell cast by Henry N. Hooper and Co. They wanted to present a gift to the anti-slavery group that settled in Lawrence two years earlier.

In addition to bronze, the bell included 100 silver dollars, which gave it a different tone.

Dangerous trip

The bell’s first attempt to reach Kansas failed. It fell off a boat near New Orleans and sank in the Gulf of Mexico, where it sat for a month before it was retrieved and stowed on another boat that took it back to Boston for repairs.

Unitarian Church members decided to send it by train to a point in Missouri, then on a boat on the Missouri River to Leavenworth. The rest of the bell’s trip was on a wagon, covered by hay so pro-slavery forces wouldn’t discover it.

Lawrence High School students pass a bell that few residents may realize is in the school's hallway or why it's important. The LHS Class of 2004 is raising money for a new display case for the bell that was originally atop the Unitarian Church in Lawrence. The bell, smuggled through Missouri to avoid pro-slavery forces, dates almost to Lawrence's founding.

From 1858 to 1890, the bell was in the bell tower of the Lawrence Unitarian Church in the 900 block of Ohio Street. The church’s basement was where the first Lawrence school classes were taught.

The bell called students to class, sounded the hour and rang on special occasions, including Kansas’ admittance to the union in 1861, Stuewe said.

“The sound of that bell was a sound people for generations heard and associated with Lawrence, in good times and probably some bad times,” he said.

Lawrence High School purchased the bell in 1890 and placed it atop its building at Ninth and Kentucky streets. It signaled for students when to change classes.

The Lawrence High School class of 1961 raised money to have the bell moved to the current high school location on Louisiana Street. It was encased in glass outside the auditorium, which at the time was the front entrance of the school.

No attention

But the high school eventually was remodeled, and the bell wound up near the back of the school.

“I think a lot of people don’t really realize the significance of the bell,” Stuewe said. “Because of the way it is displayed and positioned, people have paid attention to it less and less over time.”

That’s what the senior class is hoping to correct, said Tammy Heenan, vice principal and sponsor for the class of 2004.

“A lot of the kids said they didn’t even know the bell was there,” she said. “We want it to look sharp and be done right.”

Lindsey, the class president, said the 450 class members would begin actively seeking donations in February. He said about $3,000 would be needed to construct a new display case between the entrance rotunda and cafeteria of the school.

More on 150th anniversary:¢ Parade envisioned to kick off sesquicentennial celebration (9-26-02)¢ Citizens formulate plans for sesquicentennial (4-05-02)¢ City starts sesquicentennial countdown (9-19-01)¢ Ideas for 150th abound (4-6-01)¢ Official 150th site

Harris Construction is donating its time to build a cart to transport the bell, and school district carpenters will build an oak case.

In the glass case, the bell will be visible from two sides. The display also will include information about the history of the bell, the history of Lawrence High School and the history of Lawrence.

Now, the bell is visible from only one side, with a small sign explaining its history.

Lindsey said seeing the bell in its new home would be well worth the effort.

“This is a pretty big class project,” he said, “but the bell is a pretty big deal.”