Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Bells ringing are part of routine for writer working in Gurdon

Something sounded different a week before the holiday in Gurdon. My journey no longer included the daily routine of hearing bells.

To the person who doesnt know about the church song bells at the Presbyterian Church, this may sound crazier than usual. But the church bells ring out hymns and that is what I usually hear, nearly every afternoon as I type our Gurdon Times stories.

The absence of the church bells not only interrupted my routine, but the silence also bothered my friend Autumn at US Bank.

We watched as the face lift was given to the church and waited in anticipation for such things as the steeple to be reinstalled.

Changes in a small town like Gurdon are noticed big time.

I understand the Presbyterian Church is celebrating 120 years of service in the community. I am not sure when those bells came into existence, but I doubt if it was 120 years ago.

One person said it was closer to five years since they were first heard. All I know is the Presbyterian bells were making music when I got here on Aug. 16, 2004. So on my journey, I have always heard bells in Gurdon.

When I was an editor of the McCleansboro Times Leader in Illinois, back in the middle 1980s, once a year we did a serious of church history features. But of all of those churches, I dont remember any bells playing out hymns. I do recall a few with old fashioned bell towers and the simple ding-dong of yesteryear.

I understand there are 27 churches in Gurdon. But as far as I know, the Presbyterian Church is the only one with bells that ring out old hymns.

Bells ringing!

Well, here is an update. The church bells were ringing today, Tuesday, June 27. That means they were down about two weeks if memory serves.

If they were down less, it wont hurt my feelings much to be told my memory does not serve all that well. After all, I have admitted to being the journalist who hears bells on a regular basis.

I believe hearing old hymns has a calming effect on most of us, so in this particular case I am glad to be hearing bells. It makes me feel a lot more at ease and a bit more hopeful that all is well.

Until next time, this is John sill on his Journey, glad to hear the church bells back in business.