An artist’s conception of what the Clarion Bell Tower being planned for Lindenwood University may look like.Clarion Bell Tower planned as Lindenwood, St. Charles focal point
President Dennis Spellmann of Lindenwood University has told the First Capitol News that Lindenwood University is moving forward with a plan to construct a 40 to 44 foot Clarion Bell Tower at the intersection of First Capitol Drive and West Clay after the intersection is straightened.
The Clarion Bell Tower will have 25 bells connected to a keyboard. “The bells can be played for special events, festivals, just about anything the City would want,” said President Spellmann. “This will be the first Clarion Bell Tower in Missouri and also the first west of the Mississippi.
The Lindenwood Board plans on naming the Bell Tower after board member Ben Blanton. Blanton is considered a leader in the construction industry and is along time Lindenwood board member. According to President Spellmann, board member Ron Ohmes, retired president of Kirchner Concrete products and his son, have agreed to donate all the masonry products to be used in the construction of the tower to the University. Dr. Michael Conoyer a Lindenwood University Board member will head the Clarion Bell Tower Committee.
The Clarion Bell Tower will sit in front of the new $30 million, 132,000 square foot Fine and Performing Arts Center that is under construction on the Lindenwood Campus.
“There will be a plaza built around the tower,” said President Spellmann. This will be constructed in the highest point in the area. St. Louis has the arch and now St. Charles will be proud to have the Lindenwood University Ben Blanton Clarion Bell Tower. It will be a place where visitors will stop and have their pictures taken. The tower will set the pace for the redevelopment of the formerly blighted area. West Clay is the old Highway 40 and was a cow trail before that.”
President Spellmann expects construction to start on the Bell Tower just as soon as the intersection is straightened.
