First Church Bell

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna give it to you straight. Now, you might think a church bell is just a church bell. Hang it up, ring it, done.

But this one, this one's got a little more story wrapped around it than most. Back in 1890, somebody in Canadian, Hemphill County, decided this town needed a bell. Not just any bell.

The first church bell Canadian had ever heard. So they bought it, and they placed it in the old Presbyterian Church. And right away, it wasn't just a Presbyterian bell.

Several faiths used that church, which means that bell was ringin' for just about everybody in town. Now here's where it gets interesting. That bell didn't come free.

There was a bank loan on it, and somebody had to pay it back. So the congregation got to work. Suppers.

Projects. You can almost picture it, the whole community showing up, passing plates, raising funds, all to make sure that bell stayed right where it belonged. And they did it.

They paid that loan back. Then time moved on the way time does, and when the congregation moved to a new Presbyterian Church, the bell went with them. Didn't leave it behind, didn't let it collect dust.

Moved it right along. And here's the part that lands: that bell, bought in 1890, is still being used today. First bell Canadian ever had, and it's still ringin'.

What the marker says

Bought in 1890 and placed in old Presbyterian Church, used by several faiths. Was first church bell in Canadian, Hemphill County. Congregation held suppers and other projects to repay bank loan on bell. Later bell was moved to new Presbyterian Church and still is used today. (1967)