The bell tower at the North Carolina State University in Raleigh is a local landmark, and is finally getting a makeover.
It may not be generally known, but the bell music that is heard coming from the tower is actually a recording. When the renovations are complete, the tower will feature real bells.
The bell tower was dedicated in 1949 as a memorial to university alumni who fought in the First World War, but since then, it has never been a working tower.
The cost of the renovations, which will include both the tower and the plaza where it stands, is estimated to be more than $5m. The alumni and the university proper want to raise $3-4m to buy bells.
Frances and Bill Henry are strong supporters of the institution, and are donating the money to purchase real bells. The Henrys' donation means work can begin on renovations, repairing water damage that has occurred over decades. There will eventually be 54 new bells in the tower, after a renovation that will take three years.
The fact that the bells people hear are not real has surprised many students. Olivia Hall, a senior, said that people expect a bell tower to be equipped with bells, so it is nice to know the renovations will include them.
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