Lula Birdsall is pictured with the bell before it is refurbished.
The Richford Graded Schoolhouse was built in 1869 to replace the log school building located across the street (now Route 38) from the present building. The bell was founded in Troy, New York in 1870.
The bell was probably shipped by train, and then hauled by wagon to the school by a local drayman, possibly George Rice. Rice was an area drayman who hauled local freight from the Depot to businesses in town. The bell was used to herald the beginning of the school day until the mid-1950’s when the school closed.
Later, the Paragon Lodge of the Odd Fellows used the building until the early 1970’s. During the latter years, the organization ran into financial difficulties and one of the members, Howard Birdsall, agreed to loan them money. In return for the loan, Birdsall acquired the bell as collateral.
In this photo, Al Smith and Lula Birdsall officially ring the newly donated bell at a dedication held Sept. 17, 1999.
When the Odd Fellows ceased operations in the mid-1970’s, Birdsall retained the bell as agreed upon if the loan was not repaid. Howard and his son removed the bell around 1974 and took it to his home on Aurora Street where it remained until 1999 when Lula Birdsall was approached about donating the bell to the Richford Historical Society so that it could hang once again in its home.
The building is now owned by the Town of Richford and is the home of the Richford Historical Society. The agreement between Mrs. Birdsall, the town, and the historical society is that the bell shall forever remain in Richford, not ever to be sold or given to anyone.
The bell was refurbished by Al Smith in 1999 and re-hung in the belfry of the graded schoolhouse. The bell was dedicated to the memory of Howard Birdsall on Sept. 17, 1999 at the schoolhouse where Lula rang it officially for the first time in almost 30 years. There is a plaque commemorating this event just inside the front door of the schoolhouse.
Pictured, are Lula Birdsall and Al Smith, with the plaque behind them.
The plaque is also a tribute to the generosity of Lula Birdsall to her community. Birdsall died in July of 2017 at the age of 97.
Visitors to the 25th Annual Richford Potato Festival on Sept. 16 may ring “Lula’s Bell” at the Graded Schoolhouse for a donation of $1.00.
Be the first to comment on "History of the school bell at the Richford Graded Schoolhouse"