PUSLINCH – A resident has turned to council for its support in restoring and constructing a commemorative structure featuring a historic school bell for the township's 175th birthday.
In a written delegation to council as a private citizen, Puslinch Historical Society member Marjorie Clark has asked council to consider creating a commemorative cairn with the Killean School Bell as the centreepiece to mark Puslinch's 175th anniversary in 2025.
According to the Puslinch Historical Society's Annals of Puslinch 1850-1950, the bell is a relic of Killean School or School Seven, a one-room log school house that opened in the 1850s.
"Through all of these 175 years, Puslinch has been a wonderful place to live and to grow. We should take every opportunity to celebrate our successes, particularly in this turbulent era," said Clark, in her letter. "175 years of life in Puslinch Township truly merits celebration."
Pre-pandemic, Clark said the Historical Society previously tried to launch the project but found the society lacked manpower, knowledge, expertise and sufficient funds to accomplish the job and was forced to abandon the plan.
The bell is currently stored on Kevin Whitcombe's property, who Clark said "would be pleased to donate it." Kevin inherited the bell from former Puslinch mayor and Wellington County Warden Brad Whitcombe, who had purchased it for public display.
While the bell "may require some alteration," Clark said she envisions a stone cairn similar to that erected in Morriston's Historic Corner Block and suggested the Puslinch Community Centre grounds, on the east side of the library as a potential future location for the bell.
Clark also asked for a plaque on the cairn identifying the bell as from Killean School and explaining the history of all 12 school communities that formed in Puslinch in 1850.
Council moved to refer Clark's request to the township's heritage advisory committee for further discussion.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
