Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon |
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| General information | |
| Type | Carillon |
| Architectural style | Brutalism |
| Location | Washington Park |
| Address | 1740 W Fayette Ave, Springfield, Illinois 62704 United States |
| Coordinates | 39°47′22″N 89°41′00″W / 39.7893333°N 89.6834722°W |
| Inaugurated | June 1962 |
| Renovated | 1978, 1987, 1993, 2000, 2008 |
| Cost | $200,000 |
| Renovation cost | $90,000 (2008) |
| Owner | Springfield Park District |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 132 feet (40 m) |
| Observatory |
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| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Lifts/elevators | 1 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Bill Turley |
| Other designers | Petit & Fritsen (bell casting) |
The Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon is a tall musical tower found in Washington Park in Springfield, Illinois. A carillon is a musical instrument with many bells played by a keyboard. This tower is 132 feet (40 meters) tall. It is made of concrete, brick, and steel. The carillon was officially opened in 1962. It was designed by an architect named Bill Turley. Every year, the carillon hosts a special event called the International Carillon Festival. Famous carillon players from all over the world come to perform there.
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History of the Carillon
The Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon was a gift from Thomas Rees. He was a senator in Illinois for one term, starting in 1902. He also ran a newspaper called the Illinois State Register. He did this from 1881 until he passed away in 1933.
During World War I, Mr. Rees worked on an international board for newspapers and later for worker unions. This job allowed him to travel around Europe. He became very interested in bells after visiting carillons in Belgium and the Netherlands. He also read articles about bells in magazines like National Geographic.
Mr. Rees set aside $200,000 from a special fund to build the carillon. In his will, which is a legal document about what happens to your money after you die, he gave very clear instructions. He said exactly how many bells there should be and where the carillon should be built. The Springfield Park District helped make his dream happen.
The bells were made by a Dutch company called Petit & Fritsen. The tower to hold the bells was built in Washington Park. This bell tower, also called a campanile, was officially opened in June 1962.
Over the years, the carillon has been closed sometimes for repairs and updates. For example, its cable system was fixed in 1978 and again in 1987. In 1993, the carillon had a big repair to its structure. In 2008, seven of the bells' clappers (the parts that hit the bell to make sound) were replaced. This cost $90,000.
How the Carillon is Designed
The Bells of the Carillon
The carillon has 67 bells in total. All these bells together weigh about 82,753 pounds (37,536 kg). The bells are made of bronze and come in different sizes. The biggest bell is called the G-flat bell. It weighs 7.5 short tons (6,800 kg). The smallest bell weighs 22 pounds (10 kg).
When it was first built, the carillon had 66 bells. But in February 2000, a 67th bell, the B-flat, was added. All the bells were made by the Petit & Fritsen company. They are located in Aarle-Rixtel, a town in the Netherlands.
Many people say the Rees Memorial Carillon is one of the biggest in the world. Some even claim it's the 3rd largest. Others simply call it "one of the world's largest." In 2002, an author named Don Davenport said it was the 5th largest carillon in the world. It was also featured on a website called Midwest Living, where it was also described as "one of the world's largest carillons."
The Carillon Tower
The carillon bells are housed inside a tall, free-standing campanile. This tower is 132 feet (40 meters) tall. Bill Turley designed the tower. He also designed other buildings in Springfield, like the Hoogland Center for the Arts. The tower stands in the park. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens and a reflecting pool.
Festivals and Visiting the Carillon
The Rees Memorial Carillon hosts a special week-long event every summer. It's called the International Carillon Festival. It usually happens in June. During this week, there are concerts in the evenings. Amazing carillon players from all over the world come to play at this festival.
The festival in 2011 was extra special because it was the 50th anniversary. Even though the carillon opened in 1962, the first festival was held in 1961. A book called Chase's Calendar of Events said in 2007 that this festival is "the world's best known carillon festival."
You can take tours of the carillon during the spring and summer. The Springfield Park District website has information about tour and concert times. If you want to visit in the winter, you need to make an appointment first. There is a small fee to enter the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon. Visitors can take an elevator to the top of the carillon. From there, you can see a wonderful view of Springfield!
