Morrison, IL, schools and churches participated in the “Bells Across the Land” ceremony from 2:15 to 2:19 p.m., marking the unofficial end of the Civil War. Thursday, April 9, 2015, is the 150th anniversary of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia–by Confederate General Robert E. Lee–to Union Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant. The Sesquicentennial marks a major reduction in horrific conflict which ranged from 1861 to 1865.
Miss Korby Paul’s students are studying the Civil War. Custodian Bob Stone took three of her Southside School fifth graders outside, to the bell which had hung in the earlier Southside School. It was located where Odell Public Library is. The bell was made in 1869 by “McNeeleys’ West Troy, New York.”
Every 15 seconds, the children took turns striking the bell. Shown left-to-right are Miah Jones, 11; Rhett Oetting, 11, and Riley Pohren, 10, ringing the clapper.
Junior High sixth grader Emma Youngquist, 11, borrowed Mrs. Diane Downs’s classroom bell to mark the minutes, ringing it every 30 seconds. She stated her grandmother collected bells, and now many belong to her family.
Four churches rang their steeple bells:
- (EAST) Brethren in Christ, 209 E. Knox Street
- (SOUTH) Ebenezer Reformed 309 E. Park Street
- (WEST) Morrison United Methodist, 200 W. Lincolnway
- (NORTH) St. Peter Lutheran, 601 N. Jackson Street.
There was “a major bell ringing event at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Appomattox, VA,” at 2:00 CDT. That time signifies the moment the surrender proceedings of Lee’s troops concluded. Below, reenactors marked the solemn moment at McLean House in Virginia.
At 2:15, across the Nation, community bells tolled for four minutes, marking four years of civil warfare.
