Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower

Last updated
Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower
Bell tower in Chapel Hill (cropped).jpg
Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
USA North Carolina location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within North Carolina
General information
Type Campanile
Location Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Coordinates 35°54′31″N79°02′57″W / 35.9086°N 79.0492°W / 35.9086; -79.0492
Completed1931
Height172 feet (52 m)

The Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower is a functioning bell tower located on the campus of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). It is a 172-foot-tall tower with a Roman numeral clock built-in on each of the four sides of the tower. The top of the bell tower holds an observation area. It is topped by a conical spire structure. The area around the bell tower is surrounded by hedges and a grass lawn designed by University botany professor William Chambers Coker, who also designed the Coker Arboretum on campus. [1] The tower is one of the most visible landmarks on campus.

Contents

History

The idea of erecting a bell tower on the University of North Carolina campus was originally suggested by John Motley Morehead III in the 1920s, but it was denied several times by the University because of conflicts regarding the location. When the idea was finally approved, the construction began with the funding of two sponsors, Morehead and Rufus Lenoir Patterson Jr. The tower was designed by McKim, Mead & White, an architectural firm. It shares a resemblance to the North Carolina State University (NC State) Belltower that was initially built to commemorate the NC State alumni that fell during World War I. [2]

The tower was dedicated and received by Governor Oliver Max Gardner on Thanksgiving Day of 1931 with an acceptance address. [3]

When head football coach Mack Brown returned to Chapel Hill following the 2018 season, he brought with him the tradition of lighting the bell tower blue after every Tar Heel victory, as he had similarly done at Texas with The Tower, lighting the Tower burnt orange after every Longhorn victory.

Belfry

The belfry originally began with 12 manually operated bells made by Meneely Bell Foundry in 1931. It is currently equipped with 14 mechanized bells with the addition of 2 bells by Petit & Fritsen in 1998. [4] The names of prominent figures in the University history, Governor John Motley Morehead and William Lenoir, are inscribed on the two largest bells. [5]

The bells ring every 15 minutes, chiming on the hour. In addition, the bells play other songs or the alma mater as part of University celebrations or holidays.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapel Hill, North Carolina</span> Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Chapel Hill is a town in Orange and Durham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its population was 61,960 in the 2020 census, making Chapel Hill the 17th-most populous municipality in the state. Chapel Hill and Durham make up the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 608,879 in 2023. When it's combined with Raleigh, the state capital, they make up the corners of the Research Triangle, which had an estimated population of 2,368,947 in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina State University</span> Public university in Raleigh, North Carolina, US

North Carolina State University is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The university forms one of the corners of the Research Triangle together with Duke University in Durham and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</span> Public university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Chartered in 1789, the university first began enrolling students in 1795, making it one of the oldest public universities in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Orange County is a county located in the Piedmont region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 148,696. Its county seat is Hillsborough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Motley Morehead</span> American politician (1796–1866)

John Motley Morehead was an American lawyer and politician who became the 29th governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina. He became known as "the Father of Modern North Carolina."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morehead Planetarium and Science Center</span>

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a unit of the university, Morehead receives about one-third of its funding through state sources, one-third through ticket and gift sales, and one-third through gifts and grants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Max Gardner</span> American politician (1882–1947)

Oliver Max Gardner was an American politician who served as the 57th governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1929 to 1933. A member of the Democratic Party, Gardner worked in the administrations of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.

John Motley Morehead III was an American chemist, politician, and diplomat. As a chemist, his work provided much of the foundation for the business of Union Carbide Corporation. The Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation was formed in 1917 from the merger of the former Union Carbide founded in 1898 by Morehead's father; and the National Carbon Company founded in 1886. He was a noted philanthropist who made major gifts to his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also served as mayor of Rye, New York and United States Ambassador to Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenan Memorial Stadium</span> Stadium on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Kenan Stadium is a college football stadium located on Stadium Drive in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Opened in 1927, it is home to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's (UNC) football team, which competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The facility replaced Emerson Field, where the school's football program had been based since 1916. Plans for the stadium began as attendance increased. Ground was broken on the stadium in December 1926 and work completed in August 1927. The stadium hosted its first game on November 12, 1927, when the Tar Heels faced the Davidson Wildcats, where the Tar Heels won 27–0 in front of 9,000 spectators. On November 24, 1927, the stadium was officially opened and dedicated during a game where the Tar Heels hosted the Virginia Cavaliers and won 14–13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UNC Health Care</span> Hospital in North Carolina, United States

UNC Health is a not-for-profit medical system owned by the State of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It provides services throughout the Research Triangle and North Carolina. UNC Health was created in 1998, when the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation that established the UNC Health Care System, bringing under one entity UNC Hospitals and the clinical programs of the UNC School of Medicine. In 2018, the system reported over 3.5 million outpatient visits and over 500,000 emergency visits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate</span>

The president pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate is the highest-ranking officer of one house of the North Carolina General Assembly. The president of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the president pro tempore actually holds most of the power and presides in the absence of the Lt. Governor. The president pro tempore, a senior member of the party with a majority of seats, appoints senators to committees and also appoints certain members of state boards and commissions. From 1777 to 1868, North Carolina had no Lieutenant Governor, and the highest-ranking officer of the Senate was known as the "Speaker". The Speaker of the Senate was next in line if the office of Governor became vacant. This occurred on two occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morehead-Cain Scholarship</span> University of North Carolina scholarship

The Morehead-Cain Scholarship was the first merit scholarship program established in the United States. It was founded at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1951 and was named for its benefactors, John Motley Morehead III and the Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation. The Morehead-Cain is among the most prestigious undergraduate educational opportunities worldwide, with only 3 percent of candidates gaining admission each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student housing</span>

Over 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students live in campus housing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during a regular school year. Forty residence halls are grouped into 16 residential communities across campus.

Morehead Patterson was an American businessman, a diplomat, an inventor, and president, CEO and chairman of American Machine and Foundry, the company founded by his father Rufus Patterson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufus Lenoir Patterson</span> American businessman and politician

Rufus Lenoir Patterson was an American businessman and politician from North Carolina. Born into a prominent family, Patterson received private schooling before matriculating at the University of North Carolina. Electing to forgo a career in law, Patterson studied in a banking house and founded a series of mills in Salem, North Carolina. He served on the county court and was elected to a term as Mayor of Salem. Patterson was twice a delegate to state constitutional conventions. He was the father of Rufus Lenoir Patterson Jr.

Robert Lynn 'Bobby' McMillon was an American traditional ballad singer, musician, and storyteller living in Lenoir, North Carolina. He was a 2000 recipient of the North Carolina Heritage Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Henry Fries</span> American industrialist (1855–1931)

Francis Henry Fries was an American textile businessman and industrialist from North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina State University Memorial Belltower</span> Clock tower in Raleigh, N.C.

The North Carolina State University Memorial Belltower is a 115-foot-tall (35 m) free-standing bell tower on the Main Campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina Conceived as a war memorial to honor university alumni killed in World War I and the university's overall participation in the conflict, the Belltower now serves as a perpetual memorial for N.C. State students and alumni who gave their lives in the service of the nation. A prominent university symbol, the tower is a popular rallying point for the campus community.

Rufus Lenoir Patterson Jr. was an American businessman who founded American Machine and Foundry and served as a vice president of the American Tobacco Company.

The Patterson family is a prominent family from North Carolina that was involved in politics and business for several generations, serving in the state and national level and founding successful companies, including the American Machine and Foundry Company.

References

  1. "Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower, UNC (Chapel Hill)". Comemortative Landscapes. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  2. "Morehead-Patterson Memorial Bell Tower". Visit Chapel Hill. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  3. "Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower Memorial". Governor O. Max Gardner. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  4. "CHAPEL HILL : USA - NC". Tower Bells. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  5. "Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower". The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 4 February 2016.