After 140 years, the tower had to close in 2017 due to structural upgrading and now has been fully restored. Until then the town upheld the wishes of its original sponsor, David Dudley Field, to have the chimes played every day at 5:30 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Field himself played them for 45 years, starting in 1878. After that, volunteers upheld the tradition until 2017.
The town sponsors the traditional playing of the newly restored Children’s Chimes Bell tower every day this year from May 25 to Labor Day Sept. 2 at 5:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.
Located in front of the Old Town Hall and First Congregational Church in Stockbridge, this tall carillon (bell tower), was gifted to the town by Field in memory of his grandchildren. His one condition was the chimes were to be rung every day at 5:30 p.m. between, “apple blossom time and the first frost on the pumpkin”. His intention was that “it will be a memorial of those who are enshrined in my heart, while the ringing of the chimes at sunset I trust will give pleasure to all whose good fortune is to live in this peaceful valley.”
Editor’s note: Overseeing the project is Berkshire County conductor and music educator, Andrea Goodman. She is the director of the Cantilena Chamber Choir with a five-concert series annually at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lenox. She currently teaches pre-k-Grade 8 at the Saint Agnes Academy in Dalton and has taught at the Montessori School of the Berkshires in Lenox for 10 years. For further information contact Andrea at satbchoir@yahoo.com.
