To the editor:
The class of HA (Hardwick Academy) Class of 1970 preserved the bell for the Town of Hardwick and the HA Alumni.
Our class gathered over 400 signatures on a petition in June, 1970 and presented it to the Hardwick Town School Board requesting the bell remain in Hardwick. The board agreed with our petition and voted to give the HA bell to the class of 1970 and all living HA alumni.
I attended five HA class reunions from 1971-1975 to poll the alumni on where our bell should be placed. There was an average of 300 people at each reunion. The reunion was open to all alumni, but generally they attended on their fifth and tenth anniversary. In the five years I attended I would have talked to people from every class.
I asked three questions regarding where to house the bell. At HU (Hazen Union)? At Hardwick Elementary? In Hardwick’s Memorial Park?
The Alumni wanted it placed in the park!!
I also collected donations to pay for the HA bell tower replica that now houses our bell.
The extra money was put into the HA Alumni treasury, where that money is now, I do not know.
I have rung the bell over the last 45 plus years, it still sounds like it did when it rang to call us to class.
Last summer, The Sons of the American Legion Squadron replaced the roof, tightened the hardware and painted the structure. My classmates donated money to buy a plaque and had it installed on the slate stone base!
The current group trying to move the HA bell have no authority to do so!
If Hazen students or others would like to ring the bell, they are free to do so! It is about a three minute walk from Hazen and yet they haven’t rung the bell! I have heard people say the bell is broken and can’t be rung!! It does work!
Orise Ainsworth
East Hardwick
Class of 1970
