Chepachet Baptist Church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A National List of Holbrook Bells

The following is a partial list of bells cast by George Holbrook and his heirs believed to be still in existence, although bells followed by an asterisk (*) may not be. It is arranged in chronological order. The text in CAPITALS followed by a date is what we are told appears on the bell. Other references are in brackets [ ]. A footnote appears at the end of each item indicating our source for that individual reference. These notes appear at the end of the list. List updated, August 2022.

Bells Cast in Brookfield

  • Taunton, MA, First Parish Church, Unitarian/Universalist, FOR TAUNTON I TO THE CHURCH THE LIVING CALL. AND TO THE GRAVE I SUMMONS ALL. GEORGE HOLBROOK. BROOKFIELD MASSACHUSETTS 1804 1
  • Taunton, MA, Old Colony Historical Society, formerly Bristol Academy G. HOLBROOK BROOKFIELD 1806 PRESENTED BY C. MINOT FAIRHAVEN 1
  • Still River, MA, Historical Society (formerly Baptist Church), GEORGE HOLBROOK BROOKFIELD 1807 1
  • Lebanon, CT, Lebanon Congregational Church [1807]*2
  • East Windsor (Warehouse Point), CT, ( with a Holbrook tower clock), First Congregational Church, 1810 G. HOLBROOK 3,4
  • Leominster, MA, (with Holbrook tower clock) *4
  • Palmer, Ma, in front of the Town House, believed to be from 1807, top inscription: PRESENTED BY AARON MERRICK ES; bottom inscription: G HOLBROOK BROOKFIELD MASSA5,35

Bells Cast in Medway Before 1830

  • Millis, MA, The First Church of Christ, (Congregational) [1816], bell believed to be no longer in existence 3
  • Milford, MA, The First Congregational Church, CAST BY GEORGE, H, HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASSACHUSETTS 1819 6
  • Mendon, MA, First Parish Church, GEO H HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1820 7
  • Chepachet, RI, Chepachet Free Will Baptist Church, Chepachet Meeting House GEO H HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1822 8
  • Durham, NH, Community Church of Durham, G H HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1823 1
  • Laconia, NH, The Belknap Mill [1823] 40
  • Canterbury, CT, First Congregational Church [Purchased 1824]*2
  • New York, NY, The Brick Presbyterian Church, CAST BY G.H. HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1824 1
  • Cohasset, MA, First Parish Church, Unitarian, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1825 1
  • Milton, MA, The First Parish in Milton, CAST BY G. H. HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1825 1
  • Concord, MA, First Parish Unitarian/Universalist Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1826 1
  • Springfield, MA, First Church in Springfield, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1826 1
  • West Springfield, MA, Mt. Orthodox Lodge (Old White Church), CAST BY G H HOLBROOK MEDWAY 1
  • East Windsor (Warehouse Point), CT, St. John's Episcopal Church [1827]*2
  • West Roxbury, MA, Theodore Parker Unitarian Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1827 1
  • Holbrook bell, University of Virginia,
    Charlottesville, VA
    Click on photo to enlarge.

    Charlottesville, VA, University of Virginia, FOUNDED FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CAST BY G.H. HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1827 5,8
  • Bemis Heights, NY, schoolhouse bell [Cast, 1827] 21
  • San Rafael, CA,  Mission San Rafael, [Cast, after 1827] 21
  • Abington, CT, Abington Congregational Church [Recast, 1828]*2
  • Milton, MA, First Congregational Church, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK. MEDWAY MASS 1828 1
  • North Attleborough, MA, First Congregational Church, AKA "Oldtown Church," CAST BY GEORGE HANDEL HOLBROOK, MEDWAY, MASS 1828 1
  • Portsmouth, NH, Middle Street Baptist Church, CAST BY GEORGE HANDEL HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1828 1
  • Los Angeles, CA, Old Plaza Church, AKA Church of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels, 535 Main St., [cast 1828]*4,43
  • Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Barbara Mission [probably cast 1828]*4
  • San Gabriel, CA, San Gabriel Mission [Cast 1828]* (six, the largest bearing the inscription below) CAST BY G.H. HOLBROOK, EAST MEDWAY MASS 1828 4,9
  • Mission San Gabriel Archangel, CA (two bells), [Cast, 1828] 21
  • Old Monterey, CA, Installed in mission which burned; fate of bell unknown 9
  • Woodstock, CT, First Congregational Church, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK, MEDWAY, MASS 1829 2,10
  • Schuylerville, NY,  bell in possession of Rebecca Howard  [Cast, 1829] 22
  • South Natick, MA, The Eliot Church of South Natick, [Cast, 1829] 21

Bells Cast in Medway 1830-39

  • Burlington, VT, University of Vermont, CAST BY G.H. HOLBROOK. MEDWAY MASS 1830 1
  • Alton, IL, sold at estate sale auction in 2010, G. H. HOLBROOK MEDWAY, MASS 1831 24
  • Litchfield, CT, The First Congregational Church [purchased 1831]*2
  • San Rafael, CA,  Mission San Rafael, [Cast, 1831] 21
  • Orleans, MA,  Federated Church, [Cast, 1831] 21
  • Providence, RI, The Cathedral of St. John, Episcopal [1832] 11
  • West Boylston, MA, The First Congregational Church, CAST BY GEORGE HANDEL HOLBROOK. MEDWAY MASS 1832 1,3
  • Millis, MA, Main Street by Veterans Memorial building, CAST BY G.H. HOLBROOK MEDWAY, MASS 1832 3
  • Brattelboro, MA,  Church on the Common, [Cast, 1832] 21
  • Whitinsville, MA, Whitinsville Mill, formerly on display at Wells Clock Museum, Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA, GEO H. HOLBROOK, MASS 1833 8,12,35
  • Providence, RI,  Brown University, [Cast, 1833] 21
  • Hubbardston, MA,  First Parish Unitarian Church, [Cast, 1833] 21
  • Suffield, CT, Fuller Hall, Suffield Academy, HOLBROOK MEDWAY, MASS 1834 30
  • Elizabeth, NJ, Second Presbyterian Church, [1833] 33
  • Greenville, RI, Greenville Baptist Church, [No date; the East Medway inscription suggests it was cast in 1834 or later] CAST BY G.H. HOLBROOK, EAST MEDWAY MASS. 13
  • Duxbury, MA, First Parish Church, Unitarian, [date ground off; the East Medway inscription suggests it was cast in 1834 or later] CAST BY GEORGE HANDEL HOLBROOK, EAST MEDWAY MASS. 1
  • West Medway, MA, The Second Congregational Church (Community Church), CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK E. MEDWAY MASS 1834 1,3
  • Plymouth, NH, Plymouth Congregational Church, CAST BY GEORGE H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1834 1
  • Warwick (Apponaug), RI, Central Baptist Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1834
  • Leicester, MA, Federated Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1834 1
  • Albany, NY, Calvary Baptist Church, GOD IS LOVE  CAST BY G H HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS. 1834 45
  • Charlottesville, VA, Zion Union Church, CAST BY GHH MEDWAY MASS 1835 31
  • Hagerstown, MD, Washington County Historical Society, formerly in the City Hall, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1835 1
  • Westford, MA, First Parish Church (Parish House), CAST BY G. H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1835 1
  • Westwood, MA, The First Parish of Westwood, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK, EAST MEDWAY, MASS 1835 1
  • Provincetown, MA, The Provincetown Library, [Cast, 1835] 21
  • Uxbridge, MA, The Unitarian Church, [1835] 25
  • Salisbury, NH, Salisbury Congregational Church, CAST BY G. H. HOLBROOK. MEDWAY, MASS 1836 35
  • Pembroke, NH, The First Congregational Church, CAST BY G.H.HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1837 1
  • Boone, IA, Owned by Neil Goeppinger, G H H MASS 1837 14
  • Medway, MA, Village Church, [1838],( with Holbrook tower clock installed in 1850) 4
  • Randolph County, NC, County Courthouse, G.H. HOLBROOK MEDWAY, MASS around 1838 51
  • Dover, MA, The Dover Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1839 1
  • Amherst, NH, The Congregational Church, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1839 1
  • Canton, CT, The Canton Community Baptist Church, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1839 15
  • Brandon, VT, The Brandon Baptist Church [1839] 16
  • Newton, MA,  St.  Mary's Episcopal Church, [Cast, 1839] 21
  • Ludlow, VT,  The Congregational Church of Ludlow, The United Church of Ludlow, [Cast, 1839] 21
  • Northfield, VT, United Church of Northfield, CAST BY GEORGE H HOLBROOK OF EAST MEDWAY MASS 1839 26
  • Livingston, AL, Livingston United Methodist Church, G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY, MASS 1839 21
  • Rockport, MA, Front of Rockport High School, G HOLBROOK 1839 60

Holbrook bell, Newfane, VT
Click on photo to enlarge.

Bells Cast in Medway 1840-49
  • Cumberland, RI, in front of The Monastery, CAST BY GEORGE H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1840 35
  • New Gloucester, ME, First Congregational-Christian Church, United Church of Christ, GEORGE H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1840 I TO THE CHURCH THE LIVING CALL AND TO THE GRAVE DO SUMMON ALL 46
  • Newfane, VT, Windham County Historical Society, formerly in the Williamsville Universalist Church CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1841 1
  • Sterling, MA, Old Meeting House, now at Silver Ranch, Jaffrey, NH, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1841 1,3
  • Norwich, CT, Central Baptist Church [1841]
  • Marion, MA, The Congregational Church of Marion, [Cast, 1841] 21
  • Lowell, MA,  St. Patrick's Church [Cast, 1841] 23
  • Topsfield, MA, owned by Peter Mulholland, bell formerly in Ipswich, MA; G H H 1841 47
  • Farmville, VA, Johns Memorial Episcopal Church [cast 1841] 53
  • Charlestown, NH, South Parish Unitarian Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1842 1
  • Windsor, VT, South Congregational Church, CAST BY G.H.HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1842 1
  • Halifax, MA, Halifax Congregational Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1842 1
  • Woodbury, CT, St. Paul's Episcopal Church [1842]*2
  • Putney, VT, Putney Federated Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1842 1
  • Lisbon, ME,  Lisbon Episcopal Methodist Church, The Shared Ministry, [Cast, 1842] 21
  • Manchester, NH, Unitarian Universalist Church [1842] 36
  • Kenosha, WI, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church [1843] 54
  • Lempster, NH, Town Hall, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS 1844 1
  • Pascoag, RI, The Community Baptist Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1844 17
  • Shirley, MA, The First Parish Church, CAST BY G.H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1845 1
  • Millis, MA, in front of old railroad station, Exchange Street., [believed to be cast in 1845] 35
  • Haverhill, MA, The First Baptist Church, CAST BY G.H.HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1845 1
  • Gorham, ME, Gorham Academy, believed to be at Audubon Camp, Hockomock Point, ME. 52 CAST BY G.H.HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1846 1
  • Wendell, MA, The Wendell Meetinghouse [1846] 42
  • Geneva, IL, Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, CAST BY G.H. HOLBROOK, EAST MEDWAY, MASS, 1846 58
  • Boscawen, NH, Boscawen Congregational Church, CAST BY G.H.HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1847 1
  • Windham, NH, Windham Presbyterian Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1847 48
  • Topsfield, MA, outside Trinity Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1847 49
  • Norwood, MA, City Hall; formerly the town fire bell, cast in East Medway, 1847 50
  • Greenfield, NH, The Union Congregational Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1848 1
  • Haverhill, MA, East Parish Meeting House, CAST BY G. H. HOLBROOK WEST MEDWAY MASS 1848 28
  • Falmouth, MA, North Falmouth Congregational Church, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1848 59

Bells Cast in Medway 1850 and later

  • Leicester, MA, by Rochdale Village fire station, CAST BY G H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1851 1
  • Rowley, MA, First Church of Rowley (Congregational), CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY, MASS 1851 1
  • Sudbury, MA, The First Parish of Sudbury, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY, MASS. 1851 1
  • Amesbury, MA, Union Congregational Church, GEORGE H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY, MASS 1851 27
  • South Walpole, MA, South Walpole Methodist Church, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY, MASS 1851 56
  • Natick, MA, Henry Wilson Shoe Shop, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLB]ROOK - EAST MEDWAY, MASS. 1852 35
  • North Easton, MA, fire station, Lothrop St., [1852] 34
  • Worcester, MA, First Unitarian Church, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS 1853 1
  • Millis, MA, Church of Christ in Millis (Congregational), CAST BY GEORGE H HOLBROOK EAST MEDWAY MASS. 1853 3,35
  • Brooklyn, MI, Offered for sale and apparently sold, by Brosamer's Bells, Inc., CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK MEDWAY MASS. 1854 44
  • Westford, MA, The First Parish Church of Westford, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK. EAST MEDWAY. MASS 1856 1
  • Rahuri-Ahmednagar, India, Ballentine Memorial Church, possible Holbrook bell, 1856, from First Congregational Church, Richmond, Maine 61
  • Northbridge, MA, front of Polyfoam Corp. Providence Road, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK, EAST WEDWAY [sic] WASS [sic] 1857. Hung originally at Rockdale Mill, Northbridge. 57
  • Milford, MA, Milford Town Hall [1859] 18
  • Antrim, NH, The First Presbyterian Church, HOLBROOK & SON. EAST MEDWAY MASS 1865 1
  • Norwood, MA, front of fire station, HOLBROOK  SON EAST MEDWAY MASS, [no date; the "son" inscription suggests it was cast in 1865 or later] 35
  • Sherborn, MA, First Parish Church, Unitarian Universalist, HOLBROOK BELL COMPANY 1866 19
  • Richmond, ME, front of Middle and Upper Schools, originally at Free Will Baptist Church,  Richmond, HOLBROOK & SON. EAST MEDWAY MASS 1866 61
  • Yarmouth, ME, First Parish, Congregational, HOLBROOK & SON EAST MEDWAY MASS 1867 1
  • Medfield, MA, First Parish of Medfield, CAST BY GEORGE H. HOLBROOK & SON EAST MEDWAY MASS 1868 1
  • Rock Island, IL, First Methodist Episcopal Church [installed, 1869] 21,37
  • Lynn, MA, The First Church of Christ in Lynn, Congregational, HOLBROOK & SON E.......... MASS THE GI T OF MIRIAM WHITON. OPDYKE AD 1870 1
  • Sterling, MA, The First Church in Sterling, CAST BY HOLBROOK & SON EAST MEDWAY MASS 1872 1
  • North Waterford, ME,  North Waterford Congregational Church, [Cast, 1872] 21
  • Opdyke, Jefferson County, Il, HOLBROOK & SONS, EAST MEDWAY, MASS 1872 39
  • Keene, NH, The First Congregational Church, G.H.HOLBROOK & SON EAST MEDWAY MASS. 1873 1
  • Amesbury, MA, Market Street Baptist Church, HOLBROOK & SON. EAST MEDWAY, MASS. 1873 29
  • Lewiston, ME, Trinity United Church, 247 Bates St., [1874]  Inscription believed to include: FROM THE CHILDREN OF THE CONGREGATION 20,35
  • Bourne, MA, HOLBROOK & SON, 1875 3
  • Wrentham, MA, North Parish Meeting House; later Norfolk Town Hall; original date unknown; origin of bell unknown, possibly a Holbrook; recast by Holbrook Foundry, East Medway, MA, 1877-79 . Town Hall burned, 1922; fate of bell unknown.* 32
  • Ashland, MA, in front of Fire Station, HOLBROOK - E.MEDWAY, MASS. 1878 19,35
  • Columbus, GA, Holy Family Catholic Church, [Cast, 1879] 21
  • Ariton, AL, Ariton Universalist Church, Atlantic Street, [date not ascertained] 55

Holbrook Tower Clock,
United Church of Chelsea, Chelsea, VT
Click on photo to enlarge.

Tower and Clock
United Church of Chelsea, Chelsea, VT
Click on photo to enlarge.

Holbrook Clock and Striking Works
United Church of Chelsea, Chelsea, VT
Click on photo to enlarge.

Holbrook Bell, 1840
United Church of Chelsea, Chelsea, VT
Rev. David E. Smith, photographer
Click on photo to enlarge.

Holbrook Bells With Tower Clocks
  • East Windsor (Warehouse Point), CT, First Congregational Church, G. HOLBROOK 1810 3,4
  • South Natick, MA, The Eliot Church of South Natick, bell cast, 1829, clock now electrified 41
  • Medway, MA, Village Church, [1838], ( clock installed in 1850) 4
  • Holliston, MA, Clock installed in 1832, bell installed earlier 4
  • East Woodstock, CT, 1834 4
  • Amherst, MA, Amherst College (clock installed 1834, bell installed earlier) 4
  • West Townsend, MA, First Baptist Church (clock installed 1834, bell, same year or before) 4
  • Chelsea, VT, Congregational Church, 1840; now United Church of Chelsea 4
  • Maine, (Two bells installed with Holbrook tower clocks, locations unknown to us) 4

College and Academy Bells

There is reference in Eva A. Speare, Historic Bells in New Hampshire, to Holbrook bells cast for: Harvard, Brown, Tufts, Amherst, Yale, Dartmouth , Bowdin, and William and Mary. A newspaper account from The Milford Daily News, Milford, MA, January, 1981, shared with us by Priscilla Howker of the Medway Historical Society, refers also to bells at Trinity (presumably in Hartford, CT), and "Dean Academy." A bell at the University of Virginia appears in our list above.

Bells, possibly existing, with references, but incomplete information

  • Boston, MA, Old West Church, now a library 3
  • Boston, MA, Commonwealth Avenue Baptist Church 20
  • Boston MA, Tremont Street Methodist Church 20
  • Boston MA, Hollis Street Church 3
  • Hingham, MA, Old Baptist Church 20
  • Hopkinton, MA, Old Engine Hall on Hayden Rd. 3
  • Natick, MA, Route 135, W. Central & Mill Street, "Henry Wilson Shoe Shop," front lawn 3
  • Sandwich, MA, in front of Glass Museum 3
  • Penacook, NH [No other information] 3
  • Webster, NH [No other information] 9
  • Muscatine, IA [No other information] 3

Notes: Sources of Information on Holbrook Bells

  1. A list of Holbrook bells prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Stickney of Bedford, MA, experts on Revere Bells.
  2. From Kelly, J. Frederick, Early Connecticut Meetinghouses, New York, Columbia University Press, 1948.
  3. From a list of Holbrook bells prepared by Priscilla Howker of The Medway Historical Society.
  4. From Shelley, Frederick, "The Holbrook Dynasty," National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Bulletin, February, 1996.
  5. From Conversation with Frederick Shelley, March, 1997.
  6. From Rev. Paul Sanderson, Interim Pastor, First Congregational Church, Milford, MA., who climbed the steeple, fought off pigeons, and observed the inscription, March 1997.
  7. From information supplied by The First Parish Church, Mendon, MA, in March 1997.
  8. Bell observed.
  9. From Speare, Eva A., Historic Bells in New Hampshire pp. 33-37.
  10. From historical materials supplied by Rev. James Harrison, pastor, First Congregational Church, Woodstock, CT.
  11. From The Rev. Canon George N. Sayles, The Cathedral of St. John, Providence, RI.
  12. From materials supplied by Frank White, Curator of Mechanical Arts, Old Sturbridge Village.
  13. From Marian Hardman, Historian of the Greenville Baptist Church, Greenville, RI.
  14. From a letter of Neil W. Goeppinger, March 11, 1997, and a telephone Conversation in March 1997.
  15. From a letter by Barbara Kay, Clerk, Canton Community Baptist Church, April 22, 2002.
  16. From a telephone conversation, March 1997, with George Matthew, Music Director; The First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, CT, and organist at the Brandon Baptist Church, Brandon, VT.
  17. From Milton Barrows, member, Pascoag Community Baptist Church, Pascoag, RI.
  18. Source Unknown.
  19. From a letter by Betsy Johnson, Curator, Sherborn Historical Society, Sherborn, MA, September 3, 2001.
  20. From The Milford Daily News, January, 1931, shared with us by Priscilla Howland of the Medway Historical Society.
  21. From church or institution web site.
  22. Communication from Rebecca Howard.
  23. Information from Denise Cailler.
  24. From John Adams, February 9, 2010 and June 30, 2010. It was sold without a clapper for $3200.
  25. From Mark Brundage, June 26, 2010.
  26. From Debra Maloney-Evans, December 29, 2010.
  27. From Michael Cote, October 6, 2010.
  28. From Timothy Orwig, Walpole, MA, August 31, 2010.
  29. From Dennis Miller, Amesbury, MA.
  30. Submitted by Charles Cahn II, Headmaster, Suffield Academy, Suffield, CT, November 7, 2011.
  31. Submitted by Elizabeth Breeden, Charlottesville, VA, November 1, 2011.
  32. Submitted by Barbara Bartholomew, Norfolk Historical Society, November 2, 2012.
  33. Submitted by Steven A. Keat, Metuchen, NJ, February 15, 2013.
  34. Submitted by Tom Patnode, Uxbridge, MA, May 2, 2013.
  35. One of several submitted by Betsy Dakin, Plainville, MA, February - June, 2014. Her efforts to locate and catalog Holbrook bells are greatly appreciated.
  36. Manchester, NH, Unitarian Universalist Church website, viewed 2015.
  37. Rock Island, IL, First Methodist Episcopal Church website, viewed, 2015.
  38. Amesbury, MA, United Congregational Church website, viewed 2015.
  39. 2010 Article from the Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Register-News, viewed on the web, 2015.
  40. From A History of the Belknap Mill, a book reproduced on the web, viewed, 2015.
  41. From Eliot Church website, viewed, 2015.
  42. From website of Friends of the Wendell Meetinghouse, viewed, 2015.
  43. From website on the Old Plaza Church, viewed, 2015.
  44. From website of Brosamer's Bells, Inc., viewed, 2015, but may be from earlier date.
  45. Submitted by Joshua Root, Albany, New York, June 26, 2015. It was recently removed from the church bell tower, which was subsequently taken down. The church is located on Launfal Street in Albany.
  46. Submitted by Rev. Linda K. Gard, New Gloucester, Maine, November 16, 2015. This bell is attached to a George Stevens three-face tower clock, run by weights, and is rung hourly by a maul. It rings F#.
  47. Submitted by Peter Mulholland of Topsfield, MA., February 12, 2015; November 19, 2015.
  48. Submitted by Wendy Williams, Secretary of the Historic District/Heritage Commission of Windham, New Hampshire, May 19, 2015.
  49. Submitted by Peter Mulholland of Topsfield, MA, January 12, 2017.
  50. Submitted by Carl Scott Zimmerman, Kirkwood, MO, January 9, 2017.
  51. From website of Randolph County, North Carolina, article by L. McKay Whatley.
  52. From website of "pooroldtim".
  53. From the church website.
  54. From the church website.
  55. Website article from the Dothan [Alabama] Eagle, March 3, 2016, by Ebony Davis, featuring Debra Allums.
  56. Submitted by Eldon Gay, Millis, Massachusetts, August 12, 2018.
  57. Submitted by Jim Higgins of Dudley, Massachusetts, December 2018. The bell has been recently re-yoked and hung in an attractive setting outside the Polyfoam complex.
  58. Submitted by Karen Moore, Geneva, Illinois. This bell is listed in the 1936 Historic American Buildings Survey, a WPA project. For a while in the 1800s it was the only bell in town and was used to warn people of fire or call them together for announcements.
  59. Submitted by Ken Peal, Falmouth, Massachusetts, October 2020.
  60. From Gloucester Daily Times, J. Mackenzie, May 30, 2018; bell found at Old Castle, Pigeon Cove.
  61. From John "Jay" A. Robbins, Jr., Richmond, Maine.

Acknowledgments

We wish especially to acknowledge the contributions of Edward Stickney to this list. Mr. Stickney and his wife, Evelyn Stickney, are the country's leading experts on the bells of Paul Revere. He sent us a list of fifty Holbrook bells, which forms the heart of the list presented here. We also wish to give special acknowledgment to the contributions of Priscilla Howker of the Medway Historical Society who also sent us more than a dozen additional references, and Betsy Dakin who sent us information about a dozen more bells in 2014.

In addition, we wish to thank the following people who have also helped us locate information about Holbrook bells: Milton Barrows of the Pascoag Community Baptist Church, Pascoag, RI; Paul Curran ,Trustee, Milford, MA library; Betsy Dakin; Neil Goeppinger of Boone, IA; Marian Hardman, Historian of the Greenville Baptist Church, Greenville, RI; Rev. James Harrison, Pastor, First Congregational Church, Woodstock, CT; Betsy Johnson, Curator, Sherborn Historical Society, Sherborn, MA; Barbara Kay, Clerk, Canton Community Baptist Church, Canton, CT; George Matthews, Music Director, The First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, CT and organist at The Brandon Baptist Church, Brandon, VT; Peter Mulholland; Rev. Paul Sanderson, First Congregational Church, Milford, MA; The Rev. Canon George N. Sayles, The Cathedral of St. John, Providence, RI; Frederick Shelley, author, Early American Tower Clocks; Frank White, Curator of Mechanical Arts, Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA; Robert Wilder, historian, of Brookfield, MA, and all who have submitted information about specific bells to this website, as listed in the footnotes above.

Any additions, corrections, or further information on Holbrook Bells will be greatly appreciated. Please write to The Chepachet Free Will Baptist Church, 1213 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI, 02814, or use our Contact Us form to send your comments.

The Website of the Chepachet Baptist Church
(Historically the Chepachet Free Will Baptist Church)
-and-
The Proprietors of the Chepachet Meeting House

© Copyright 2004-2023 The Chepachet Free Will Baptist Church Society. All rights reserved.
1213 Putnam Pike - PO Box 148 • Chepachet, RI 02814 • (401) 568-3771
The church logo was produced by Zachary Andrews.
All photographs, unless otherwise noted, courtesy of Marilyn J. Brownell. All rights reserved.

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