Restoration Highlight

The highly anticipated restoration and renovation of The McGaffin Carillon is complete. We are very thankful for the over 225 donors who have made this possible. A list of donors is on the Friends of the McGaffin Carillon website https://www.ucbells.org/friends . In these series of highlights The Friends of the McGaffin Carillon would like to honor some of the major gifts as well as some of the major upgrades to the installation.

The Cragin Peal

Part of the original installation of the bells in 1968 was the three-bell Cragin Peal. Three of the largest carillon bells were specially hung on yokes, powered by electric motors, with additional large clappers suspended inside the bells. As the bells swing, the clappers strike them, producing sound. This celebratory pealing is so loud it can be heard as far away as Cleveland Heights. The peal was given in memory of Gertrude Bardons Cragin by her husband, Raymond T. Cragin.

For several decades, cracked gears and failing control mechanisms rendered the peal inoperative.

The first phase of the full restoration occurred in 2018 with the restoration of the Cragin Peal. New clappers were cast, the bells were rehung, and new motors and a digital control system were installed. The restored peal was heard for the first time on June 8, 2018, in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of the McGaffin Carillon.

In the photo from 2018, two technicians from Royal Eijsbouts work to repair one of the peal bells. I the video from 2018, the restored peal rings for the first time.