HARDWICK – Late last week, the Hardwick Academy/Hazen Union Alumni Association mailed out ballots to all Hardwick Academy alumni for a vote to determine the future of the Academy’s Meneely bell.
The bell has been in Memorial Park for nearly 50 years now. There has been much interest to move the bell to Hazen Union as a school bell again.
Each of the mailed ballots has a number written on it to verify the ballot is legitimate and prevent voter inaccuracies. The association is having a third party, the Hardwick Historical Society, count all ballots. The number will not be used for identification purposes.
Ballots were mailed to alumni in Hardwick Academy classes from 1943 to 1973. A total of just under 700 were sent. Based on historical statements, the bell was gifted to all living HA alumni. Now it is up to them to vote on the bell’s future.
Here is the cover letter to those voting:
“Move the Hardwick Academy Bell to the Hazen Union Bell Tower or Have it Remain in Memorial Park.
“In the past five years, there has been much discussion and debate about the Hardwick Academy Bell. There are those who would like to see it moved to the Hazen Bell Tower. Others want it to remain in Memorial Park. You have been sent this ballot because you are a Hardwick Academy alumni. The Hardwick Academy Bell was gifted to you, as well as every H.A. Alumnus. Your Alumni Association has decided to put this matter to a vote. Your vote will help decide the Bell’s future, either leaving it in Memorial Park or moving it to Hazen.
“The Hardwick Town School Board in June of 1970 issued the following statement: “Although the school directors are unhappy with the method in which the bell was removed, they nevertheless are in sympathy with your wishes to preserve the bell of Hardwick Academy. Up until this moment in time, no matter how sure the rumor you may have heard, no offer has been made for the bell”
“’We therefore willingly pass over to your care [the class of 1970] and all H.A. alumni living, who may have heard its sounds, the bell, now removed and safely placed in the school basement.’ Reported by the Gazette, Burlington Free Press and Barre Times-Argus.
“In a February 6, 2020 Hardwick Selectboard meeting, which can be viewed on Hardwick Community TV, a few alumni asked the board if the bell could be moved from Memorial Park to Hazen Union. They were told by the Selectboard the Town did not own the bell. Orise Dufresne Ainsworth was at the meeting. She said the bell does not belong to any one person or group. Her opinion was the bell belonged to the Alumni Association and so, the only way to decide if it could be moved would be by letting all Hardwick Academy alumni vote on the matter. The Alumni Association agrees with Orise, so we are sending these ballots to every H.A. Alumni with the current addresses we have on file.
“According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an alumni is a person who attended or graduated from a particular school, college or university. Therefore, alumni from H.A. classes 1930 -1973 will be receiving the ballot.
“Please read the pro and con arguments of the bell issue, as prepared from interested alumni, and mark your choice on the ballot, then mail it back in the postage paid envelope. It will go to the Hardwick Historical Society and they will tally the votes.
“Please remind HA Alumni classmates, friends and family to vote.
“Return your ballot by October 31.”
