A mystery has been solved.
The Fair Haven school bell is still in Fair Haven. According to those who know, The Fair Haven School bell has been located and donated to the village.
Recently I found out that one of our neighbors, Matt Osterhaut, is quite the authority on bells. For many years he has wondered what happened to the bell that sat in the top of the old bell tower on the Fair Haven school.
It seems like back around 1940 the bell was removed from the tower when the school was being renovated, never to be replaced. Eventually the school was torn down, and when all the area schoolhouses consolidated, the mystery of the bell remained a mystery.
A few months ago, Osterhaut was talking to another neighbor, Fair Haven's historian Erwin Fineout, about the bell. Fineout told him that he was pretty sure he knew where the bell was. He said he was sure it had been taken across the street to be stored in a barn at the time of the renovation work. Upon further investigation, it seems Fineout was correct as the bell was located in the barn now owned by George Shelton.
The bell was found stuck way in the back of the barn with a lot of debris covering it. Osterhaut was thrilled to hear the bell ring again. He says every bell has it's own sound, and each has different functions. No two bells sound alike, and each has its own voice and that this is definitely a school bell.
Osterhaut and Fair Haven's Mayor Bill McVea split the cost and purchased the bell, then donated it to the village. A big thank you to both of you.
Plans are under way for the bell to be mounted on top of the Fair Haven Bandstand located in the center of the village. It will be rung in honor of our veterans and before events in the village. Funds are needed to purchase an appropriate cupola, upgrade the bandstand and to purchase a bronze plaque. All friends of Fair Haven are encouraged to donate to this cause.
If everyone who attended the school would donate $1 or more, we could do the up- grade work to the bandstand, purchase the cupola and weathervane and still be able to resurface the floor.
There will also be a time capsule buried under the bandstand where a list of donors will be placed. We are fortunate to have found the bell, and we need to keep this bit of history here. This will not be paid with tax-payer money.
Osterhaut's wife, Barb, and Anne Blauvelt are co-chairs of the School Bell Fund to raise money. Please make checks or donations out and send to Ann Blauvelt “School Bell Account,” Box 46, Fair Haven, NY 13064. We need your support for this to happen. Your name will go down in history as a “Real Friend of Fair Haven.”
Osterhaut will be at the Sterling Historical Society May 16. Having made a point to record bells and know their histories, he will play bell recordings and show photos. He feels bells are an important part of a community's history, and the only bells you hear ring anymore are church bells.
In other news:
Plans are well underway for this year's Fourth of July Celebration. This year's schedule is beginning July 3 and running through July 5. A run down of events will be provided in the next column.
Also new this year on May 2 (rain date is set for May 3), the Sterling Fair Haven Community Picnic will be held at West Barrier Bar. It is hosted by West Barrier Bar Tenders. In an effort to kick off spring, food, fun, games and several events are planned.
This is a good way for local folks to get together before we all get caught up in the busy demands of summer. The Bar Tenders are proud to sponsor this event and will be grilling hot dogs and burgers. The Fly By Night Cookie Company will offer baked beans and dessert, and the Boy Scouts will be selling homemade potato chips and soda pop. Events planned so far include Kite Flying, A Kayak Parade, a Thi Chi demonstration and beginner class, a three-legged race and an acoustic jam by local musicians. A tree planting has also been suggested.
Also, Susan Gateley will lead a nature walk focusing on migratory birds passing through each spring and sharing some beach combing secrets.
The town is also pleased to announce the purchase of six picnic tables, being made by a local woodworker and to be delivered by May 1.
These were paid for with the proceeds from the book nook. The Fair Haven Chamber of Commerce has agreed to co-sponsor and help as well as the Bay Betterment association.
Lastly, Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Spring Derby is scheduled for May 2 through 11.
Nancy Webster lives and writes from the village of Fair Haven.
Recently I found out that one of our neighbors, Matt Osterhaut, is quite the authority on bells. For many years he has wondered what happened to the bell that sat in the top of the old bell tower on the Fair Haven school.
It seems like back around 1940 the bell was removed from the tower when the school was being renovated, never to be replaced. Eventually the school was torn down, and when all the area schoolhouses consolidated, the mystery of the bell remained a mystery.
A few months ago, Osterhaut was talking to another neighbor, Fair Haven's historian Erwin Fineout, about the bell. Fineout told him that he was pretty sure he knew where the bell was. He said he was sure it had been taken across the street to be stored in a barn at the time of the renovation work. Upon further investigation, it seems Fineout was correct as the bell was located in the barn now owned by George Shelton.
The bell was found stuck way in the back of the barn with a lot of debris covering it. Osterhaut was thrilled to hear the bell ring again. He says every bell has it's own sound, and each has different functions. No two bells sound alike, and each has its own voice and that this is definitely a school bell.
Osterhaut and Fair Haven's Mayor Bill McVea split the cost and purchased the bell, then donated it to the village. A big thank you to both of you.
Plans are under way for the bell to be mounted on top of the Fair Haven Bandstand located in the center of the village. It will be rung in honor of our veterans and before events in the village. Funds are needed to purchase an appropriate cupola, upgrade the bandstand and to purchase a bronze plaque. All friends of Fair Haven are encouraged to donate to this cause.
If everyone who attended the school would donate $1 or more, we could do the up- grade work to the bandstand, purchase the cupola and weathervane and still be able to resurface the floor.
There will also be a time capsule buried under the bandstand where a list of donors will be placed. We are fortunate to have found the bell, and we need to keep this bit of history here. This will not be paid with tax-payer money.
Osterhaut's wife, Barb, and Anne Blauvelt are co-chairs of the School Bell Fund to raise money. Please make checks or donations out and send to Ann Blauvelt “School Bell Account,” Box 46, Fair Haven, NY 13064. We need your support for this to happen. Your name will go down in history as a “Real Friend of Fair Haven.”
Osterhaut will be at the Sterling Historical Society May 16. Having made a point to record bells and know their histories, he will play bell recordings and show photos. He feels bells are an important part of a community's history, and the only bells you hear ring anymore are church bells.
In other news:
Plans are well underway for this year's Fourth of July Celebration. This year's schedule is beginning July 3 and running through July 5. A run down of events will be provided in the next column.
Also new this year on May 2 (rain date is set for May 3), the Sterling Fair Haven Community Picnic will be held at West Barrier Bar. It is hosted by West Barrier Bar Tenders. In an effort to kick off spring, food, fun, games and several events are planned.
This is a good way for local folks to get together before we all get caught up in the busy demands of summer. The Bar Tenders are proud to sponsor this event and will be grilling hot dogs and burgers. The Fly By Night Cookie Company will offer baked beans and dessert, and the Boy Scouts will be selling homemade potato chips and soda pop. Events planned so far include Kite Flying, A Kayak Parade, a Thi Chi demonstration and beginner class, a three-legged race and an acoustic jam by local musicians. A tree planting has also been suggested.
Also, Susan Gateley will lead a nature walk focusing on migratory birds passing through each spring and sharing some beach combing secrets.
The town is also pleased to announce the purchase of six picnic tables, being made by a local woodworker and to be delivered by May 1.
These were paid for with the proceeds from the book nook. The Fair Haven Chamber of Commerce has agreed to co-sponsor and help as well as the Bay Betterment association.
Lastly, Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Spring Derby is scheduled for May 2 through 11.
Nancy Webster lives and writes from the village of Fair Haven.
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