Caldwell County MO Archives History .....OLD CHURCH BELL IN KINGSTON 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com September 8, 2008, 4:27 pm

AN OLD CHURCH BELL IN KINGSTON
	Narrator:  Mrs. Fannie McLaughlin

     Mrs. McLaughlin, now of Hamilton, lived most of her life in Kingston.  
The history of this bell which she discusses reflects the history of two 
churches in Kingston.  For years, there had been one bell to call people to 
church in Kingston, which hung in the belfry of the Presbyterian church.  They 
bought it for $750 in 1884 from the Congregational church, bell and all, for 
the last named church had "played out."  Its few members went largely into the 
Presbyterian fold.  A few years ago, the Presbyterian church lost its 
independent existence when it merged in with the Methodist and they worshipped 
in the better Methodist church.  The old Presbyterian-Congregational church 
was no longer needed, nor was its bell used.  It had been used since the early 
70s.
     It was taken down and its clapper was removed to prevent misuse.  The 
bell itself was placed on the back porch of the Kingston Times where it sat 
for six years and no one heard its voice except when some youngster would 
strike it for fun.
     One morning in May 1935, the people of the little town were astounded to 
hear the old familiar voice of the church bell.  People ran out of doors, 
fearing that fire had broken out.  Quite a crowd gathered to find the cause.
     It turned out that W.A. Rookstool (who has bought the Zack Wheat farm in 
the south part of the county near Polo) had bought this bell as a dinner bell 
to call the hired hands in from the fields to meals.  Thus this bell, dating 
back to the 70s, has turned from religion to food.
     Interview  1935.


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