The original plan for June 3 was to have a kickoff for Traer’s sesquicentennial celebration that would culminate with the Winding Stairs Festival in August. Instead, the Big Birthday Bash got really big.
Here’s a full schedule of events (via Facebook). The free cake for Traer’s 150th birthday starts at noon. The events are all at Taylor Park, because restoration of the gazebo is a focus of this year’s celebration. Unfortunately, I’m unable to attend, meaning that both the alumni band and kolache-eating contest will be down one participant.
The centerpiece is a model of the Iowa State Campanile, which has 27 bells. The carillon has a special connection to Traer.
New chimes at Ames to honor name of Stanton
Former Traer girl to administer bequest of late husband at Iowa State College
Mrs. Julia W. Stanton, dean of women at Iowa State College, former Traer girl and a sister of Mrs. R.C. Wood, will supervise the addition of twenty-six new bells to be purchased as a memorial with money left for the purpose by her late husband.
— Traer Star-Clipper, July 20, 1928
Unfortunately, Stanton would not be able to see the bells installed. She died of a blood clot December 14, 1928.
New carillon bells for Ames
The twenty-six new bells for the carillon of the Iowa State college campanile at Ames arrived in New York Monday, July 29, aboard the steamship Albertie from England. The bells range in weight from five to 5,100 pounds, the total weight being 21,000 pounds. Workmen have completed remodeling the interior of the campanile to receive them. Funds for the bells, which will cost $25,000, were provided in the will of the late Dean Edgar W. Stanton.
— Traer Star-Clipper, August 2, 1929
Iowa State now has 50 bells in its campanile. Northern Iowa recently had its 47 bells restored and nine new ones added for a total of 56. (President Wintersteen, we cannot allow a carillon bell gap!)