Eastland in Eastland County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Townsend Bell

Photographed by Wesley Harris, June 10, 2022

1. THE TOWNSEND BELL Marker

Inscription. In 1869 John T. Townsend brought this bell and all his family's possessions to Eastland County from Bowling Green, Kentucky in a covered wagon. The 640-pound 36-inch diameter bell - cast in 1850 by the L. M. Rumsey Co. of St. Louis, Missouri - was a fixture on the Townsend ranch until 1900 when the family donated it to the First Baptist Church of Eastland. The members of First Baptist gave the bell to Eastland’s First Church of God in 1923 for use in their new building. In 1977 the Eastland and Cisco congregations joined to form the Inspiration Church of God. The church moved the Townsend bell to Camp Inspiration west of Eastland in 1981. The Church of God sold the camp to the Eastland Economic Development Corporation in 2004 and donated the bell for display in “Old Rip Park”.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Parks & Recreational Areas • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 32° 24.122′ N, 98° 49.207′ W. Marker is in Eastland, Texas, in Eastland

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County. It is on West Main Street 0.1 miles west of N Seaman Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 W Main Street, Eastland TX 76448, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Old Rip (a few steps from this marker); Last Mob Lynching in the State of Texas (within shouting distance of this marker); Connellee - Majestic Theatre (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Camp Salmon / Texas Civil War Frontier Defense (about 500 feet away); Eastland County World War I Memorial (about 500 feet away); First United Methodist Church of Eastland (about 600 feet away); Eastland County Courthouse (about 600 feet away); Eastland (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by Wesley Harris, June 10, 2022

2. THE TOWNSEND BELL Marker

of all markers in Eastland.

More about this marker. Located in Old Rip Park beside a sculpture of "Old Rip" a horned toad that was sealed up in the Eastland County Courthouse's cornerstone in 1897. When the stone was opened in 1928, Old Rip was still alive. See Old Rip marker.

This park is on what was historic U.S. 80, the only all-weather coast-to-coast highway that existed in America. Prior to the interstates, it was one of the primary highways for traversing the country.

Photographed by Wesley Harris, June 10, 2022

3. THE TOWNSEND BELL Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2024, by Wesley Harris of Ruston, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 315 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 10, 2024, by Wesley Harris of Ruston, Louisiana. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.