A replica of the belfry shown in the earliest photograph of Smyrna Church has been completed and equipped with a donated bell that has a history
of its own. A snapshot taken in 1915 by the family of Dr. John Grammer shows a belfry and bell atop the historic structure. When
and why the belfry was removed and what happened to the original bell is not recorded. But when architect Gary Clements saw the old photo, he
instructed workers to add a belfry as part of the ongoing restoration. The bell that now graces the top of the Smyrna Church building
originally hung in the
tower of the 19th century Fredonia Methodist Church at Stevens Creek near Judsonia. It went to Smyrna last month courtesy
of White County Historical Society members Patrick and Avalyn Moseley Parker as well as Avalyns sister Judith Moseley. When the Fredonia
church disbanded in the 1920s, the building (which still contained the bell) was purchased by Avalyn and Judiths uncle Perry Moseley.
Wood salvaged from the church [photo below right] was used to build Perrys home at Stevens Creek, which later burned. The bell remained in
the Moseley family until WCHS preservation chair Bill Leach came and loaded it onto his truck [photo at left], with help from WCHS member Bob Shaver
who lived nearby. This didnt end the story, though. The bell had been lovingly displayed at Uncle Perrys farmstead. [Theodore Moseley
is shown on the fa
rm with the bell in the above photo in 1973.] During this time, part of the rope wheel had been broken, leaving only a couple of
spokes that were used as levers to ring the bell. Also, the top of one of the support arms was broken. Leach, who plays
the piano for Sunday morning services at Ellis Chapel, remembered that when the 116-year-old Ellis Chapel Church burned in 1998, the bell survived
and was in storage in Randy Martins body shop at Walker. The
extreme heat ruined the temper and sound of the Ellis Chapel bell, but the support arm was intact. It and the rope wheel were donated from
the Ellis Chapel bell
and fit perfectly on the Fredonia bell. The new Smyrna bell (photo, right) will soon ring out, in tribute to the many workers
and contributors who have helped. Smyrna Church, located on Highway 36 west of Searcy, is owned by the City of Searcy and is being preserved with
private donations and matching grants from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Funds are still needed to complete the preservation. For
additional information contact treasurer Shirley Baugh at 501 281-5504 or shirleybaugh@sbcglobal.net
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