First Congregational Church - Great Barrington, MA - Bell Towers on Waymarking.com

The church itself is set in the heart of downtown Great Barrington, along Main Street. The church is built of locally quarried limestone. The church is two stories in height, with a longitudinal nave whose walls are supported by buttresses. Its roof is steeply pitched, and covered in slate. A five-story bell tower, 116 feet (35 m) in height, rises at the southwest corner, and is topped by a pyramidal roof with flared edges. The church was built in 1883, using parts of the previous (1859) structure, which was built from stone sourced at the same quarry, and was destroyed by fire in 1882.

Story of the tower:

"In 1891, it was voted to build a vestry on the lower floor, a kitchen and dining room on the upper floor, a bell tower and portico The expansion was made possible in part by a donation from Mr. Orrill Hayes of NY."

Quoted Source: (visit link)

Regarding the bell itself, the above link provides a history:

"In 1847 a bell cast by G. H. Holbrook of Medway MA was obtained. Jeremiah Kingsman paid $10 to be the first to ring the bell."

Jeremiah was a lucky man, and maybe he got to see the bell tower erected!

The bell continues to be rung. :-)

Address of Tower: 251 Main Street Great Barrington, MA USA 01230 Still Operational: yes Number of bells in tower?: 1 Relevant website?: [Web Link] Rate tower: Tours or visits allowed in tower?: No

Visit Instructions:
Please post an original picture of the tower taken while you were there. Please also record how you came to be at this tower and any other interesting information you learned about it while there.

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