St Marys in Pleasants County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Eureka Methodist Church Bell

Donated by Dave and Nancy Wells

Photographed by Mark Parker, January 30, 2025

1. Eureka Methodist Church Bell Marker

Inscription. The Wells purchased the closed church building and property with the intention of remodeling the church into their home. The building was too far gone to be salvaged so they saved what they could and purchased a home to put on the property. Nancy affectionately named the bell "Esmeralda" from the movie, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. She liked to keep the bell painted and enjoyed letting visitors ring it. Nancy would ring the bell on the anniversary of the tower collapse (April 27, 1978) for each of the men that died in that disaster.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 27, 1978.

Location. 39° 23.553′ N, 81° 12.258′ W. Marker is in St Marys, West Virginia, in Pleasants County. It is at the intersection of 2nd Street and Clay Street, on the right when traveling north on 2nd Street. The marker and bell are next to Pleasants County Historical Society Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 524 2nd Street, Saint Marys WV 26170, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Northern Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The St. Mary's Oracle (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Veterans Memorial Park

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(about 600 feet away); Pleasants County Veterans Memorial (about 600 feet away); Raid on St. Marys (approx. 0.2 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Hi Carpenter Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); St. Marys (approx. ¼ mile away); Short Route Bridge (Hi Carpenter Bridge) (approx. ¼ mile away).

Regarding Eureka Methodist Church Bell. The tower collapse, once commemorated by the ringing of the bell, as referenced in the marker, was the Willow Island disaster near Eureka in Pleasants County - a short distance from St Marys. As part of a construction project for the Allegheny Power System, the collapse of the cooling tower claimed the lives of 51 men. It was the largest construction accident in U.S. history.

Also see . . . Willow Island Disaster. Information about the disaster, which the tolling of the bell commemorated.

The Willow Island disaster was the collapse of a cooling tower under construction at the Pleasants Power Station at Willow Island, West Virginia, on April 27, 1978. Fifty-one construction workers were killed. It is thought to be the deadliest construction accident in U.S. history.

(Submitted on February 1, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Eureka Methodist Church Bell and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, January 30, 2025

2. Eureka Methodist Church Bell and Marker

The framed marker is to the left side of the bell. Im the background is the Pleasants County Historical Society Museum.

Close-up up the Eureka Methodist Church Bell. Marker is attached on the left side of the frame. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, January 30, 2025

3. Close-up up the Eureka Methodist Church Bell. Marker is attached on the left side of the frame.

Cornerstone of St Marys Presbyterian Church is in front of the bell.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 152 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 1, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.