Media Advisory
Halifax Explosion Bells to be Re-dedicated
(Thursday, December 2/04)--
The Halifax Explosion Memorial Bells will soon be ringing once again
after an extensive cleaning and repair of the bells, the structure
and the carillon mechanical parts.
Mayor Peter Kelly will officially rededicate the bells during the
annual ceremony at Fort Needham on December 6 to commemorate the
Halifax Explosion. Members of Halifax Regional Council and other
dignitaries have been invited to attend.
The story of the bells is intricately linked to Barbara Orr. As
a young lady, Barbara was running to look at the ship on fire when
the Halifax Explosion took place and she was blown to the top of
Fort Needham. Barbara donated a set of 10 bells in memory of her
family, who were killed in the Explosion. In 1921, when the United
Memorial Church was dedicated, it was Barbara Orr who played the
bells. Many years later, the bells proved to be too great a weight
for the church tower and they were lowered to the lawn, where they
rested beneath a tarpaulin for eight years.
In 1983, the Halifax Explosion Memorial Bells Committee, founded
by the late Edmund Morris, launched a public appeal to build a Halifax
Explosion Memorial Tower on Fort Needham. In the spirit of this
public endeavour, a design competition was held and the design by
Keith Graham, a local architect, was chosen. At the time of construction,
it was decided to enhance the musical selection that could be played
by adding four new bells. These bells were a gift of C. Russell
Isnor. In keeping with the tradition established 64 years earlier,
Barbara Orr was given the honour of being the first to play the
memorial bells on June 9th, 1985 when the new Halifax Explosion
Memorial Bell Tower was dedicated. On this occasion, Barbara was
assisted by her cousin Bill Orr.
Recent refurbishing included re-coating exposed structural steel,
repairing the electrical and mechanical operating mechanisms and
cleaning each bell. Prior to this work being done, corrosion had
affected a number of the bells and they had stopped working.
Chris Allworth, Director of Music at the Atlantic School of Theology,
will be playing the bells at the 2004 Halifax Explosion Memorial
Service scheduled for 9a.m., Monday, December 6th, at Fort Needham
in north end Halifax..
–30--
Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
John O’Brien
Corporate Communications Officer
(902) 490-6531
Larry Oakes
HRM Capital Projects Division
(902) 490-4148
