Century-old bell tolls again
SUN PHOTO BY MERAB-MICHAL FAVORITE
The church building as it looked in 1920, looking north from Cross Street. The photo offers a view of the bell tower and rear of the sanctuary.
SUN PHOTO BY MERAB-MICHAL FAVORITE
Church members got to see the bell for the first time on Sunday.
SUN PHOTO BY MERAB-MICHAL FAVORITE
For the first time the inscription on the 116-year-old bell is legible. It reads, "Manelly Bell Fdr. North Albany, New York. Church of the Good Shepherd, Punta Gorda, Florida. Christmas 1896. 'O, Come All Ye Faithful'."
SUN PHOTO BY MERAB-MICHAL FAVORITE
After the bell was restored, it was placed in the entryway so members of the church can get a good look at it.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The Good Shepherd bell as it looked before the restoration.
PUNTA GORDA— As the truck pulled up to unload a large wooden box nearly 15 feet tall last Wednesday morning, a pure white feather blew through the air, landing at the feet of a member of the congregation.
“Look,” exclaimed Bobbi Trautschold. “It’s a little sign from Heaven.”
