gdpresb.html

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., October 26, 1989, page 1

COUNTY'S HISTORIC CHURCH BELL CHIMES IN SEATTLE

A musical part of Klickitat county history is chiming in Seattle these days, following installation of Goldendale's old Presbyterian church bell in the Washington State Centennial Bell Garden.
The bell dates from 1883, when it was placed in the belfry of Goldendale Presbyterian Church, and it was rung on April 6, 1888, during the county's only public hanging. Henry Timmerman was executed that day after his conviction for the murder of Walla Walla resident William Sterling.
One month later, on May 18, 1888, most of Goldendale burned to the ground, including the church building. The "hanging bell," as it's called, was then placed in a new Presbyterian Church, where it remained until the building's demolition in 1930.
Later bell owners included the R.L. Hall family, the Wilford G. Imrie family, and the current owners, Ernie and Alice Harris. They're making the bell available on a long-term basis to the Washington State Centennial Celebration.
The bell now represents Klickitat County in the Centennial Bell Garden, where it joins bells from every other county in the state.
They're installed along the Pike Street side of the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle, where they're hooked up to a computer-controlled timing system. The 300-foot-long Centennial Bell Garden features plaques describing each bells origin, history, and donors name.
Several other bells are displayed inside the Convention Center, including a glass bell made especially for the collection.
The control system allows the bell chimes to be coordinated, marking time and special occasions. There are also twice-daily performances featuring compositions written for the collection. In addition to Klickitat County's bell, there are a locomotive bells, a farm bell, a sheep's bell, school bells and ships' bells.
A "Book of the Bells" is being published to describe the bells and their home counties.
The Klickitat County Centennial Bell measures 26 inches across the base and weighs 275 pounds. Before leaving for Seattle, the bell was the focal point of a special program on the courthouse lawn, on Sept. 17, 1987. More than 400 schoolchildren from all over Klickitat County gathered there to participate in "Bells Across America," a nation-wide event commemorating the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution. The students tolled the bell that date for 200 seconds.
Formal dedication of the Bell Gardens is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 4; representing Klickitat County that day will be White Salmon resident Marian Kolbaba, vice-chair of the Klickitat County Centennial Committee.