the future of the Our Savior Lutheran church

Years, ago, when I used to live in Port Jefferson, N.Y., there were a few times I've gone to this church in Centereach ny, for a Sunday Worship, but the  public busses didn't run on Sundays, so my mom had driven me. It's a very nice church, and the room of worship is very peaceful and holy. I especially loved the hanging lanterns from the ceiling as they gave off a pleasant glow. So I've come across the church's website and checked it out for lost memories, and have discovered their future plans for their church.  Their model shows that the church buildings will probably expand and get all modern, but what really got me upset is that it looks like they may take down their decorative bell that's on their roof. It's a very memorable bell, as that's where their church bell music was heard whenever it rang. I've discovered that their electronic carillon system was a Scotia bell electronic carillon system, as the photo of the system I saw on the internet, is what I remember seeing on a visit I made there once. The bells sadly no longer play, as an article in the Town Crier of Port Jefferson station ny, once had an article about the bells of this church being silenced, as people had called the  church to complain that the bells were loud and disturbing and needed to be turned off immediately. As a kid, I remember that whenever my dad drove us in the car past that church, he called it the talking bell, as when my sister and I talked to it from the car, the bell would ring it's song. We actually thought that the  bell was talking to us. Anyway, I guess it's just my opinion, and that the church as it is now is very historic and memorable, to lots of people. So why tear it all down, to build up a new church with modern buildings and such when it was perfectly fine the way it is now. Sure they've added on a building for the gymnasium, but do we really need that much more, and maybe they should have the church bells ringing again, but maybe not play them soo loud, but at a softer volume, so it won't disturb anyone in the community.

animation I created of what it was like to ring the 100 year old churchbell

Since the excitement of a church I went to that I got permission to ring their church bell, I created a piece of animation of what ringing that church bell was like, with even a audio recording of what that bell sounded like when it was rung. Enjoy.

A song often heard from The Old redeemer Lutheran Church's bell system

I've managed to play the song that was often heard from the Old Redeemer Lutheran Church's megaphones that are mounted onto the church's roof top, which is still there but the bells are no longer played as it's now a Yale Korean Church. Well anyway, this song was played on a Windows 8 free program that offers a virtual instrument of Tubular Bells, which sounded very close to actual church bells. I'm not much of a musician, so enjoy the song that I remembered, but don't know the name of the song. If anyone remembers this song and knows the name of it, please email me.

the Quadrabell tape driven carillon video

I saw a video on the internet that was about the Quadrabell tape driven carillon. I would've done anything to find something like this out, as I was once very curious on how those bells were rung to play those songs on such a tiny steeple. Chances are the guy that made this video worked at this church, as you heard the beautiful bell songs played on the carillon as he walked toward the side of the church. The church seems to be a Zion church as it said on the sign at the church. The guy went to the side of the church, into some doors to get inside and up a flight of stairs. As he goes upstairs, you hear the bell music getting louder and louder, until he reached the top of the steps and you saw the Quadrabell  tape deck carillon in full operation. I have to say that although it's a tape driven carillon, the bell music sounds really good and memorable. It was really neat to see this video, as I now know that churches have those type of carillons to play their songs, but I would've loved to see their device and where it was placed. Most times I got  yelled at by someone who worked at the church when I asked about their bells. Were they trying to keep it a big secret, or was this something that they were only supposed to know? There is nothing wrong with asking about something you want to know about, since I was very interested in their bell songs and I wanted to say how much I appreciated them. I figured that if I knew what electronic carillon system the church had, I could look it up on the internet and find out more info on it, and maybe get some song samples. I'm sure I wasn't the only one curious about the church bells and how they were rung.

Space Needle carillon at the 1963 seatlle world's fair

On late night tv,  I came across a documented tv special on the 1963 Seatlle World's fair, and it was before my time but it sounded like a really fun place to go, although the NY world's fair would've been closer. Anyway, with all the fun, action, and exhibits and activities as well as a look into the high tech world of tommorrow, a series of electronic bells were heard playing at the top of the Space Needle tower. It was a Schulmerich Americana Carillon electronic playing device, which the songs were played by Mr. John Klein. He was up inside the top of the tower playing a variety of songs on this electroinc carillon, and it was heard all throughout the park. The songs sounded really beautiful as heard duing the special, and I would've loved to get a copy of those songs. A LP record called HiFi bells was released in 1963 featuring a few songs played on the Schulmerich carillon for about $20. Sadly I don't have a record player anymore, and I've attempted to contact the original record company Americana Records online to see if a digital download of the record is available to purchase. Hopefully a digital version will be available. They also had a carillion performance at the Coca Cola exhibition building during another world's fair. It might've been in NY.

The Schulmerich lost memory carillon is finally found

Back in the 1990's when I moved to my new apartment, a church in the area, known as the Old Redeemer Lutheran Church had played harmonious electronc carillon music from a Schulmerich Carillon Campanile Bell Instrument Model 36-1321-100. The songs were piped to the megaphones that were mounted ontop of the roof, and could be heard for miles around, as they usually played everyday at 11:45 a.m.  The church also had a food program to help feed the needy and hungry, as the doors would open up when the bells rang. It was a  great church as my stepdad's mom Mrs. Mildred C Bruck had sung in the choir, as well as rang in their handbell choir. I've attended their church service, but mostly during the holidays as I  remember the candle lit ceramony as everyone sang Christmas carols.
                    In later years, Mrs. Bruck had passed away in July of 2004, and because of the decline in people coming to worship in that church, the decision was made to close the doors of that church. But it was then that the church had been bought out and now it's Yale Korean, and the electronic  churchbells that once played at this church had been silenced. I've gone there once a year whenever they have their annual Bazzar during May or June or July? They didn't have much to offer, other than booths of vegetables, foods that they cooked on a grill, and homemade freshly blended fruit smoothies. Other than that, they have booths selling clothing, jewerly, kids toys and games and craft items. Mostly, I've gone there to bring back the memories of the church and find out info about their carillon. The people there were very freindly and helpful, but they speak in a differnt language and use their own characters as words, however they do speak English as well, but mostly their worship is done in their language, and I was told by their pastor that he's starting an English service.
I've been to their website, and couldn't read their characters, but maybe I can understand the word Chicken in their characters, and maybe if I stare long enough I just may figure out what it says. The church had changed dramaticly,and from they told me , the last people that were there took everything with them, and that Yale Koreans don't utilize bells in their service. So that explains why the churchbell songs aren't heard from the megaphones anymore.
           So with the help of Pastor Stephanie, and Pastor Hank, The carillon that once was at the OId Redemmer Lutheran Church is now housed at the Parkway Community Church. I was extremely excited to hear the news, and get the info I needed from Pastor Hank about the carillon. I had been searching for  this info for many, many, long years. During that time, I found out info on electronic carillons and the companies that made them. Some of them provided song samples, which had been helpful in bringing back the memories of the churches in my old neighboorhood that used to play their bells. So now, Pastor Hank had sent me photos of the carillon that I've spent years in searching, and I'm going to share it wit you. enjoy. It seems that this electronic carillon was dedicated in the loving memory of Wally Karlson. He might've been a pastor in the Old Redemmer Lutheran Church, or maybe he worked there. It sounds great that this guy was kept in God's memory with this electronic carillon dedicated to his memory. Thank you Pastor Hank and Pastor Stephanie for all your assistance. And God bless your both.

A Great Book I've read about the history of bells

There's an old book at our local library withn the children's section that has a book on the history of bells. It's called Bells and their Music by Wendell Wescott. Mr. Wescott is a professional when it comes to playing bell music, and had traveled the world to find info on the history of this wonderous instrument. It shows photos of Bell Foundries and how the bells are made, as well as breathtaking views of various carillons and churches that have their bells on display. The book even has an old record that contains Mr. Wescott's recordings of the bell's music from his world travels. It's very nostalgic and informative.