06/01/2026
Following up on the previous post regarding the refurbishing of the Class of 1939 bell on our school grounds by some board members and friends of the Stemtown Historical Society. At a February 2025 Stemtown board meeting the need for the bell and its base to receive some "loving care"/protective preservation was discussed. It was proposed to be considered as an America 250 Green Springs Ohio project. Last August the deterioration was brought to the attention of the public here on our page. So pleased the project has been completed!
Recently a brief history of the bell was sent to the Fremont News Messenger for consideration for their "History Spotlight". It was published last week. Seems appropriate that we repost the rest of the story once again here for those who may not know it. We also wish to credit those who saved the bell when the academy was demolished and the Class of 1939 who took the first steps to preserve and showcase its important history!
Credit to Hope McConnell, Bud Rutherford, and the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums
Academy Bell History:
This bell hung in the tower on the west side of the three story Academy building built in 1881. The Academy was founded by the Presbyterian Synod of Toledo and later became affiliated with the Western Reserve University. First president of trustees was ex President Rutherford B. Hayes. It was used as a prep school for Adelbert College. In 1898 after the Union School in the Village burned, the Board of Education purchased the Academy building.
The bell was cast by the Buckeye Bell Foundry in 1882 and weighs 580 pounds. The Rotary Yoke supporting the bell was patented October of 1866. The bell called students to school until Christmas vacation of the 1836-37 school year when the building was dismantled and the bell was stored in the basement of the new school until the spring of 1939.
As was tradition to leave a special gift to the school, the graduating class of 1939 chose to mount the bell on a cement base placed on the southwest corner of the school grounds. The bell base was made and carved with "Class of 1939" by Ralph Oakleaf who was the school bus maintenance man and bus driver. Walter Bauer, the school head custodian helped with the project along with about six senior class boys who helped mix the cement by hand. A mason jar with names of all class members, Freshmen through Seniors, and all school personnel was placed in the cement before it was finished. Two urns were placed each side of the bell to complete the project. In 1989 the bell was restored as a gift when the Class celebrated their 50th reunion. (pictured here and names listed)
Class of 1939 at their 50th Class Reunion: Laurel Egbert, Clarkson Brown, Mae (Cochran) Cleveland, Catherine Dudrow (Teacher), Richard Minich, Bette (Laird) Young, Kimball, Mary Laverne (Fausnaugh)Arbogast, Rowe, Maxine (Black)Herbert, Mildred (Miller) Heyman, Marjory Noftz (was in the class but did not graduate with them), Betty (Young) Young, Helen (Corthell) Cole, Ruth (McClory) Smith, Ann (Byers) Pearson, Young, Mable Young, Lois Dietzel (Teacher), Eugene James McCready, Lester Cook, Dweight Eberly, John Gilvert, Henry Cleveland (not in picture)
Today, as a new generation pass by this old Academy bell, we hope they learn its story and share it as a gift to the future!
