The wood frame structure known as the Bell House was originally
built in 1841 to serve as the primary dormitory and classroom for the
Wesleyan Seminary while the Central Building was still being built, a
process that took three years. Opening off either side from a large
hallway downstairs were two classrooms with rear exits. Upstairs there
were five long rooms off a common hall that could be used as either a
classroom or dorm. The building was plastered throughout with low
ceilings and a double bank of windows. Midway between the tall chimneys
rose a simple cupola that housed the bronze bell for which the building
was named. The bell was rung every hour for the change of classes, and
the bell ringers were generally young men in search of a free room and
occasionally by janitors, who were allowed to move their families into
the building. This image is an early print
of the campus, pre-1900; the Bell House is in the background, between
the trees. In 1890, the need for a College gymnasium was dire,
and in the winter of 1893, the Bell House was partially disassembled,
taking down its tower and dormer windows and removing the
college bell to the tower of the new gymnasium structure.
Albion's most wealthy citizen at the time and College Trustee, James W.
Sheldon, bought the Bell House and had it moved to the west side of
South Monroe Street, between Cass and East Porter Streets, a section
then low and marsh-like. Mr. Sheldon began to fill in the section
and street gradually took on a more substantial look. For a decade
the old Bell House was used as a dwelling place.
In 1905, after Mr. Sheldon's death, the entire stretch of property
was purchased by S.A. Wilder & Son, who began to improve the street to a
marked degree. The Michigan Central ran through the property to
the mill, so the Wilders turned the Bell House around, placing it on the
railroad tracks, and began using it as a storehouse. For the next
seventy years the Bell House was used as a warehouse, finally razed in
the early 1970s to make room for new storage facilities. Only one wing
was salvaged for an addition to the garage at 811 Michigan Avenue.
In 1922, the college bell was broken when it fell during the
Gymnasium fire; after which time, the bell was placed in storage.
It now stands on the quad in front of Robinson Hall, previously known as
the Central Building.
Click on thumbnails for larger view
