Oak Ridge Today

Council to discuss Friendship Bell repairs, National Park designation

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge City Council

The Oak Ridge City Council is pictured above during an August 2013 meeting. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge City Council will discuss possible repairs to the structure housing the International Friendship Bell at Alvin K. Bissell Park as well as a potential National Park Service designation during a non-voting work session this evening (Tuesday evening).

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room at the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane.

See the agenda here.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

International Friendship Bell closed as city assesses damage to housing structure

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Friendship Bell Repairs

A symbol of the friendship between Oak Ridge and Japan, the 20-year-old Friendship Bell at Alvin K. Bissell Park was closed in December to allow the city to make repairs to the structure holding up the bell.

The International Friendship Bell, located in Oak Ridge’s A.K. Bissell Park, has been closed in order to assess damage to the housing structure in which the bell is displayed. A routine inspection by city staff late last year revealed cracking in the wooden support columns. Temporary fencing has been placed around the structure; additional fencing and signage will be installed this week in order to restrict direct access to the bell.

The structure housing the bell is a unique, open, timber-frame structure with six main timbers measuring approximately 12” square supporting the entire frame. A preliminary inspection by a local engineering firm has revealed significant wood root and deterioration to the structure. In addition, a large crack has developed in the stone wall supporting one of the columns at the south end of the bell structure. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge represents North America in World Bell Festival

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

World Bell Festival Oak Ridge

Local officials and community leaders meet at the International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge to talk about the city and some of its history in a live international webcast that was part of Saturday’s World Bell Festival. Pictured from left are Ray Smith, Shigeko Uppuluri, Katy Brown, Charlie Hensley, and Jeanie and Bill Wilcox.

A few dozen people turned out Saturday to celebrate the World Bell Festival in Oak Ridge.

The International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge represented North America during the festival, held in Apolda, Germany.

Local organizers used the Internet to connect to the festival and televise the ringing of the Friendship Bell. They also broadcast a short ceremony with Oak Ridge community leaders on Saturday afternoon at A.K. Bissell Park.

[Read more…]

Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge in World Bell Festival on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

International Friendship Bell

The International Friendship Bell at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge will represent North America during the World Bell Festival in Apolda, Germany, on Saturday.

The International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge will represent North America during the World Bell Festival in Apolda, Germany, on Saturday.

Organizers will use the Internet to connect to the festival and televise the ringing of the Friendship Bell as well as a short ceremony with Oak Ridge community leaders. That live broadcast on the Web is scheduled to take place from about 3:53 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. Saturday at A.K. Bissell Park.

Other international bell ringing ceremonies will be held throughout the day and broadcast live from Pollard Auditorium, according to a press release from the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau.

[Read more…]