Staff report
Carroll Chimes Bell Tower in MainStrasse Village is getting major support for repairs as property developer Charles Killian gifts funds and establishes the Tower Legacy Foundation.
The bell tower has fallen silent and is in need of major repair, says Bob Santoro of The Verdin Company which built the carillon, tower clocks and glockenspiel.
Tim Verdin, a sixth generation Verdin, was on hand at the announcement Thursday morning to talk about the initial work that will be done to repair the tower — and to provide a rare look inside the glockenspiel.
The Goebel Park bell tower is one of the region’s most recognizable — and photographed — landmarks. The glockenspiel depicts the legend of Pied Piper of Hamelin.
The 100-foot tower houses a 43-bell carillon and glockenspiel that once chimed on the hour while mechanical figures acted out the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
The local Main Street or “Mainstrasse” has a long history as a German neighborhood. In the 1970s, MainStrasse Village was designated a National Register Historic District and local businessmen proposed building on the community’s heritage to create a tourist attraction reminiscent of small villages in Germany. Many German villages have a glockenspiel (a clock tower with animated figures) in the town park, so it was decided that there should be a glockenspiel in MainStrasse as well.
Named for then governor Julian Carroll, the tower was completed in 1979, adding to the Old World charm of the neighborhood.
According to a history provided by Dave Schroeder, executive director of the Kenton County Public Library, one of the first projects completed on the building of Mainstrasse — with a $2.5 million grant from the Commonwealth — was the carillon.
Work on the village began in the summer of 1977. The carillon was designed by Addison Clipson Architects Inc. of Cincinnati. The German Gothic tower was constructed at the intersection of 6th and Philadelphia Streets. The carillon featured four illuminated clock faces and 43 bells which were supplied by the I.T. Verdin Company of Cincinnati.
The largest bell, weighing nearly 1,000 pounds was named “Big J” in honor of Governor Carroll. The next eight in size were named after the neighborhoods in Covington: Austinburg, Buena Vista, Helentown, Latonia, Lewisburg, Peaselburg, Rosedale and West Covington. The tower reached 100 feet into the air and was topped by a weathervane designed to look like a Peaselburg goose. The carillon also featured a mechanical depiction of the Pied Piper of Hamlin which played at regular intervals throughout the day.
The carillon was dedicated on July 19, 1978.
Killian, local business owner and property developer, and founding director of The Tower Legacy Foundation, presented a ceremonial check to Jim Verdin, president, The Verdin Company, to begin phase one of the needed repairs to the bell tower.
Killian, who owns Piper’s Cafe near Goebel Park in MainStrasse, has put up $33,572 of his own money to repair the carillon bell tower. Killian is also establishing a “Tower Legacy Fund” for the restoration, preservation, and ongoing enjoyment of the carillon and glockenspiel.
“The Carroll Chimes bell tower is extremely important to the MainStrasse Village,” Killian said. “It is a dynamic, larger-than-life representation of our village brand and community. We are an eclectic storybook village that celebrates a strong German heritage. The glockenspiel is an entertaining visitor attraction.”
Verdin was sent to Germany in late 1970’s to find a suitable glockenspiel to inspire the design for the Covington tower. A Munich glockenspiel that featured The Pied Piper of Hamelin was selected.
“I am excited to be part of the restoration, especially because I was personally instrumental in bringing to life the vision that MainStrasse Village had for their community and the tower, ” said Jim Verdin, president, fifth generation, The Verdin Company.
The Tower Legacy Foundation is a non-profit corporation 501(c)(3) private foundation to care for and maintain the Carroll Chimes Clock Tower in coordination with the City of Covington, MainStrasse Village Association (MSVA), Covington Business Council and other stakeholders. Funding for the initiatives will come from individual and corporate donors.