User:OLC-6202/sandbox

Notable Events

 * December 1864 - While Federal troops occupied the Belmont Mansion during the Battle of Nashville, The water tower served as a Federal signal station for the Union Army. At 2:30pm on December 1, 1864, Confederate troops were seen approaching within about a mile and a half of the line running south of the tower.


 * 1864 - The Belmont Mansion became the headquarters of the 4th Corps of the U.S. Army of the Cumberland. The Tower was used as a signal tower for Union soldiers during the Battle of Nashville.


 * November 21, 1928 – First performance of the original bells ("Alumnae Chimes") – Henry S. Wesson, organist for Ward-Belmont College and Director of the Department of Theoretical Music.


 * November 17, 1934 – Frederick Arthur Henkel played "Hail to the Chief” on the carillon as President and Mrs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the presidential party approached the Ward-Belmont campus.


 * November 1, 1974 – Belmont College tower was dedicated and converted to a Prayer Chapel with funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Hitner.


 * September 5, 1986 – The first public carillon performance including new bells was performed by Mr. Richard Watson.


 * Fall 1992 – Carillon was offered as a course for credit at Belmont University – Laura Snyder was the first student.


 * October 7th, 2008 - Belmont hosted the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. On Flag Day, the University draped a 45 feet tall x 16 feet wide banner to publicize the upcoming event. The Tower would prove to be a symbolic backdrop for the debate since it had stood through 31 presidencies.


 * Christmas Eve Carillon Concert - This tradition features traditional music played on the tower’s 42 bell carillon every Christmas Eve. The traditional originated during the Ward-Belmont days.