Big Joe (bell) facts for kids
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 37,000 lb (16,818 kg) |
| Diameter: | 9 feet (2.7 m) |
| Material: | Bronze |
| Yoke: | unknown pounds (unknown kg) |
| Clapper: | 640 pounds |
| Location: | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States |
| Casting Date: | 1895 |
| Musical note: | E♭ |
Joseph, often called Big Joe, is a giant bronze bell. It hangs 125 feet high in the bell tower of the beautiful Saint Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The nickname "Big Joe" comes from two things: Joseph T. Buddeke, who gave a lot of money for the bell, and Big Ben, the famous bell in London's Palace of Westminster clock tower.
Contents
A Giant Bell
Big Joe is truly enormous! It stands 7 feet tall and is 9 feet wide. This huge bell weighs 17.5 tons, making it the largest swinging bell ever made in the United States.
How Big Joe Was Made
The E. W. Van Duzen Company made Big Joe on October 30, 1895. They cast it at their factory on Second Street and Broadway. Moving the massive bell was a big job. Twelve horses had to pull it up Gilbert Avenue and then down Madison Road to the church in East Walnut Hills.
The First Ring
When Big Joe first rang in January 1896, its sound was incredibly loud. People in the Walnut Hills neighborhood were very surprised! The sound could be heard up to 15 miles away.
A Loud Legend
Some stories say that when Big Joe rang, its deep E♭ note caused vibrations. These vibrations supposedly shook nearby houses and even broke windows. However, a bell expert from The Verdin Company in Cincinnati says this is just a local legend. They believe the stories about broken windows are not true.
Too Big to Swing
The expert explains that Big Joe was never swung again because the bell tower itself started to shake. The mortar (the cement-like material holding the bricks together) began to crumble. The bell was simply too big and heavy for its tower.
How Big Joe Rings Today
After its first ring, the church leaders decided that Big Joe should "remain immobile forever." This meant the bell would never swing again. Its huge 640-pound clapper (the part that hits the bell) was never used after that first time.
Today, Big Joe is rung in a different way. An oversized foot hammer gently taps its rim to make a sound.
Daily Chimes
Big Joe rings three times a day: at 6 AM, 12 noon, and 6 PM. These rings are for a special prayer time called Angelus. After Big Joe rings, four smaller bells chime. These smaller bells are sometimes called the "ladies in waiting."
See also
- St. Petersglocke
