ISLAND FALLS, Maine — In 1903 when the “new” Island Falls High School building was built to replace that which had burned earlier, a bell was donated by S. R. Crabtree and a cupola was constructed on the front corner of the school to house it. For the 70 years of IFHS history, the bell was part of the school. In early years, it would have been sounded through the community as a signal of school hours. When IFHS was “no more” and students had been moved to Southern Aroostook Community School as part of CSD 9, now RSU 50, a decision was made to tear down the school building. The energy crunch of the late 1970s did not allow for continued use of the building by the community.
Town historian Nina Sawyer and other citizens began a campaign to save the bell and cupola. A Civil War era cannon was available from the Leavitt family and there was a need to honor the veterans of the town. The Island Falls Historic Bell Tower was conceived, a plan was made, and when the time came, a ceremony was held near the site of the old high school dedicating the cannon, installing a plaque and establishing the tower as a presence in the town.
More than 30 years later, in the fall of 2014, an inspection of the tower showed that time and Mother Nature had more than weathered the entire edifice. The stones were falling from the base, the floor of the cupola had begun to rot, upright supports were wearing out and wooden rails, which were original to the structure, had rotted and fallen apart. The roof was leaking and the bell itself was in need of refurbishing. Because of safety issues, the decision was made to remove the cupola and bell and to fence off the stone base.
A fund has been started and donations are sought for the work that needs to be done. According to Katahdin Public Library Director Rebecca Drew, there are alumni of Island Falls High School in all corners of the United States, as well as former townspeople who will remember the school building as the “center of town events” for many years. “It is hoped that contributions will come in to enable the structure to be refurbished and once again take its place marking history,” said Drew.
Donations for restoration may be sent to Island Falls Alumni Association, 173 Belvedere Road, Island Falls, 04747, marked as “Bell Tower Fund.” Receipts are available upon request.
