From staff reports

For over 70 years, the bell from the First Presbyterian Church sat in the attic, unused.

Monday, January 07, 2002

For over 70 years, the bell from the First Presbyterian Church sat in the attic, unused. But thanks to some dedicated volunteers, the 100-year-old bell is once again on display.

First Presbyterian Church of Albert Lea was organized in 1868. A church was built in 1869.

The congregation continued to grow and a new church was built in 1899 at the present site with a bell and tower. When the church burned in January 1929, two items -&160;the pulpit Bible and the bell -&160;were saved.

On Sept. 29, 1929, the cornerstone was laid for the present church, and the building was dedicated in 1930. The bell was stored in the attic.

A committee of church members was formed to find a way to display the bell. Those members were: Don Wedge, chairman, and Steve Johnson, David Lembke, Lionel Anderson, Clint Hanson, Bob Kuehl, Earl Jacobsen, Bob Entorf, Hazel Kepple and Irene Weber.

Wedge recalls when the bell was used originally.

&uot;The senior boys got to ring it,&uot; he said. &uot;The church burned when I was a junior, and because I never got to ring it, they made me chairman of the committee.&uot;

A new tower was constructed this fall in the green space in front of the main church entrance. Larson Contracting Inc. built the tower and Verdin Co. of Ohio cleaned the bell and put in an electromagnetic striker. The bell was rung for the first time on Dec. 16.

According to committee information, bells were developed in Asia and then spread to Europe thousands of years ago.

Bells are in the Old Testament, worn by the high priest as he entered the holy place. Church bells were first used to call worshipers to church and accompanied funeral services.

hurch bells served other purposes in history. They were used to call help for fires and to warn people of attacks. At sea, they were used to warn ships of dangerous coasts.

At the end of World War II, every church bell rang in England, France and America.

Bells are used to praise God so everyone can be reached through musical compositions and hymns.