Watervliet in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

United Methodist Church Bell

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, 10

1. United Methodist Church Bell Marker

Inscription.

United Methodist Church Bell. . World Renowned Meneely Bell Foundry Bell from… United Methodist Church, . In 1831, the Methodist Episcopal Church of Gibbonsville was erected on the South West corner of Washington and Ferry Street (1^st Avenue and 14^th Street). It wasn't until 1883 after a fire to the original structure and erection of the present brick structure that a Troy Clinton Meneely Bell was placed in the steeple. This bell was removed from the steeple of the church on October 4, 2023 donated to the City by the owner of the former church, JJ Cycle Shop, Joseph "Buzzy" and Jeanne Teson and the removal of the bell was paid for by the Watervliet Charitable Foundation., Clinton was the youngest son of Andrew Meneely and served in the Civil War as a Colonel. Upon his return and not owning a share in his older brother's business in West Troy, he established a bell foundry in Troy, New York in 1869. The Troy firm quickly became competition for the West Troy namesake. , From 1808 until 1951, four foundries in and across the river from Troy cast and shipped bells to destinations all over the world. The following excerpt from Hudson Mohawk Gateway: An Illustrated History by Thomas Phelan describes the region's bell industry:

"The greatest name in Gateway bells was undoubtedly that of Andrew Meneely. At seventeen he was apprenticed to Julius Hanks and even married one of Hanks' nieces. In 1826 he founded his own firm in Gibbonsville (Watervliet). Meneely is credited with the invention of the 'conical rotary yoke,' later catalogued as 'the most desirable and perfect rotary yoke in the world.' His firm remained a family-held, single-product business for well over a century, casting some of the most important bells, pads, and chains used in this country and abroad."

Some of these important bells include:

. a replacement for the original Liberty Bell (cast in 1876 for the Centennial) that hangs today in the bell tower of Independence Hall, Philadelphia. This is not a replica of the original bell. Rather, it is a much larger bell, weighing 13,000 pounds, a thousand pounds for each of the original thirteen states. . four bells on the Metropolitan Life, Insurance Tower in New York City. According to Sydney Ross in his Gateway booklet entitled The Bell Casters of Troy: "These bells are 700 feet in the air, and are by far the highest hung bells in the world. Their sound has been reported by voyagers at sea, beyond Sandy Hook, New Jersey, fully twenty-eight miles from the tower, and by others on Hudson River boasts, equally as far to the north."

World Renowned
Meneely Bell Foundry
Bell from…
United Methodist Church

In 1831, the Methodist Episcopal Church of Gibbonsville was erected on the South West corner of Washington and Ferry Street (1^st Avenue and 14^th Street). It wasn't until 1883 after a fire to the original structure and erection of the present brick structure that a Troy Clinton Meneely Bell was placed in the steeple. This bell was removed from the steeple of the church on October 4, 2023 donated to the City by the owner of the former church, JJ Cycle Shop, Joseph "Buzzy" & Jeanne Teson and the removal of the bell was paid for by the Watervliet Charitable Foundation.

Clinton was the youngest son of Andrew Meneely and served in the Civil War as a Colonel. Upon his return and not owning a share in his older brother's business in West Troy, he established a bell foundry in Troy, New York in 1869. The Troy firm quickly became competition for the West Troy namesake.

From 1808 until 1951, four foundries in and across the river from Troy cast and shipped bells to destinations all over the world. The following excerpt from Hudson Mohawk Gateway:

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An Illustrated History by Thomas Phelan describes the region's bell industry:

"The greatest name in Gateway bells was undoubtedly that of Andrew Meneely. At seventeen he was apprenticed to Julius Hanks and even married one of Hanks' nieces. In 1826 he founded his own firm in Gibbonsville (Watervliet). Meneely is credited with the invention of the 'conical rotary yoke,' later catalogued as 'the most desirable and perfect rotary yoke in the world.' His firm remained a family-held, single-product business for well over a century, casting some of the most important bells, pads, and chains used in this country and abroad."

Some of these important bells include:

• a replacement for the original Liberty Bell (cast in 1876 for the Centennial) that hangs today in the bell tower of Independence Hall, Philadelphia. This is not a replica of the original bell. Rather, it is a much larger bell, weighing 13,000 pounds, a thousand pounds for each of the original thirteen states.
• four bells on the Metropolitan Life, Insurance Tower in New York City. According to Sydney Ross in his Gateway booklet entitled The Bell Casters of Troy: "These
Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 7, 2025

2. United Methodist Church Bell Marker
bells are 700 feet in the air, and are by far the highest hung bells in the world. Their sound has been reported by voyagers at sea, beyond Sandy Hook, New Jersey, fully twenty-eight miles from the tower, and by others on Hudson River boasts, equally as far to the north."

To this day, there are Meneely bells on every continent on the planet except Antarctica. More than 65,000 bells were cast under the Meneely brand between 1826 and 1951, when the business closed. Upon the death of Andrew in 1851, his sons took over the business and the family continued to cast Meneely bells for another 100 years.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.

Location. 42° 43.982′ N, 73° 41.794′ W. Marker is in Watervliet, New York, in Albany County. It is at the intersection of Selke Drive and Lower Hudson Avenue, on the left when traveling south on Selke Drive. The marker stands at the entrance to Hudson Shores Park in Watervliet. Touch for map.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 12, 2025

3. United Methodist Church Bell & Marker

Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Selke Dr, Troy NY 12183, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

in the Capital District,

and in the Albany Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Erie Canal Upper Side-Cut (within shouting distance of this marker); Mayor James F. Cavanaugh (approx. 0.2 miles away); T'was The Night Before Christmas (approx. 0.2 miles away); Erie Canal (approx. ¼ mile away); The Rescue of Charles Nalle (approx. ¼ mile away); Locking Through (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Weighlock Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Maplewood Historic Park (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watervliet.

Additional keywords. Bell City

United Methodist Church Bell Inscription: image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 7, 2025

4. United Methodist Church Bell Inscription:

Washington Street M. E. Church
West Troy, N. Y.
A. D. 1883.
"Let Him That Hearth Say, Come."

United Methodist Church Bell Foundry Mark image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 7, 2025

5. United Methodist Church Bell Foundry Mark

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2025, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 8, 2025, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 3. submitted on May 13, 2025, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 4, 5. submitted on May 8, 2025, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.