(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was written by Daniel Walker with the Vernon Daily Record, and appeared in the Nov. 5 edition of The Record.)
The old bell that stood in front of Central Elementary will have a new life. It will be unveiled at the Vernon Lions football game this Friday against Peaster.
The bell was originally dedicated in 1890 with the construction of the city’s original two-story, all-grades school, at 2200 Mesquite Street. A fence surrounded the entire block, with a turnstile at each corner. On the northeast corner of the block a bell was suspended. With no clocks in homes, it was used to summon students at the beginning of the school day, and to mark the end of the school day.
The bell was used daily until the original school was closed in 1949. A new Central Elementary School opened in January 1950 at 1300 Paradise Street and the bell and cornerstone moved to the new campus, as the old building was demolished.
With the opening of a new elementary school in 2023, the old Central campus was sold. The bell’s fate was in question.
Members of the Vernon Street Machines & Classics Association wanted to save it.
“The bell would have gone with the school when it sold, and the car club thought it was just to important to let that happen. It’s been here for 136 years,” Terry Steele said.
The VSMCA went before the VISD school board and got the board to let the VSMCA take control of it to create a new fate, working with the school district.
“When Terry spoke to the board and explained what the car club wanted to do with the bell, it was really an easy decision for the trustees to let the club take the bell,” Vernon ISD Superintendent Dr. Blaise Boswell said. “The bell is definitely a piece of our district’s history, and for it be refurbished and used in a way that will allow more people to see it and enjoy it is great.
“Most of the members of the car club went to school here and one of the things that builds a strong district is when alums remain vested in the district and reach out with an idea or reach out to help,” he continued. “We are grateful for the car club coming up with the idea for the bell, and for handling the project. They also included students from our welding classes to help with the project, which just gave our students another opportunity for hands-on experience. This project also creates further investment in the next generation.”
Working with the car club, VISD’s David Coble and Nathan Mints cut the bell down. It then went to Kyle Myers and his VHS welding class. Students Matthew Calderon, Brayden Booth, Kirby Lehman, Bowie Eakin, and Will Castleberry worked on the project.
“They built us a cart to carry the bell and it will be used as a spirit bell,” Steele said. “On Senior Night we are going to wheel it out on the field.”
The trailer that will hold the bell is an old U.S. Air Force transport cart from the Altus Air Force Base.
“We really appreciate Mr. Coble and Mr. Myers and everyone that helped save the bell and helped us give it new life,” Steele said.