A Symbol of Community Spirit By Writer and Contributor NJ Jaeger
For over twenty years the Deagan Celesta Chimes called students to class at Lunada Bay Elementary School before they were inexplicably silenced. While the facts surrounding the silencing of the chimes continue to be disputed, what we do know is that in 2001 small town community spirit returned the sound of carillon bells to Lunada Bay. The Bell Tower Project archives include the suggestion that it was the result of a budget shortfall; a handwritten note states his neighbor was responsible due to “multiple complaints silencing the bells’ because ‘they wanted to sleep during the daytime”; and prevailing local legend is an annoyed neighbor climbed the Bell Tower and cut the carillon’s wires.
“Members of the community started coming out of the woodwork to help with the planning and preparations.” Sarah Smith
“When it stopped, it was almost like there was something missing.” Bob Hight
Quotes Credit: Thompson S. (2001) ‘Chimes Will Ring in the New School Year’ Peninsula News 20 October Pg. 2
Credit: Palos Verdes Library District, Local History Collection
The successful reimagining of Lunada Bay Elementary School’s beloved singing tower, the Bell Tower Project, was the brainchild of Sarah Smith, PTA board member and Parent Coordinator for Lunada Bay Elementary School’s 2001 Fifth Grade Class Gift. Originally, the Bell Tower Project was a seismic safety restoration but fifth grade parents joined students who saw an opportunity to create a bolder vision and modernized the plan. In addition to seismic safety, the new plan featured a Verdin digital Chronobell III Carillon with miniature bells individually suspended and struck by an electric striker, a cascading dolphin sculpture design by Ira and Wendy Weinberg with direct input from fifth grade students, and a listening bench at the tower’s base decorated with student hand painted tiles surrounded by new landscaping.
Dolphin Tower Rendering
Smith’s 2001 Bell Tower Project Update describes the dolphin sculpture as “a family of five dolphins swimming through kelp” and states the design “will add a beautiful focal point to our school and our neighborhood community”. The project took a full 18 months to fund, design and build. The new carillon was renamed the, Dolphin Chimes, and it stands as a remarkable legacy to community spirit.
The Carillon Sings
Designed in 1957 by Ralph Flewelling, Lunada Bay Elementary School opened January 2nd 1957 with 550 students in attendance. The school’s Bell Tower and original carillon, an electronic Deagan Celesta Chime, donated by Mr. Oliver C. Fields and Mrs. Ruby Fields was dedicated on February 24th 1957. This historic gift made Lunada Bay the only elementary school in the nation to have a carillon. Neighbors at the time wrote they were enthralled by its beautiful music and the Bell Tower Chimes soon became a Palos Verdes landmark destination for visitors on automobile tours of the peninsula.
The Bench
The enterprising fifth grade class of 2001 worked hard to fund their graduation gift by operating a dunking booth at the Halloween Festival, organizing a Friday pop up student store, selling refreshments at school events, and holding car washes. Hand painted tiles for The Bench brought out the artist in every fifth grade student and are a testament to their involvement. The colorful Malibu tiles permanently installed along the bench skirting raised money for the project and were fired in kilns at Lunada Bay and Palos Verdes Intermediate Schools. Kristi Emenwin whose five children attended Lunada Bay Elementary School shared just how meaningful reimagining this community landmark was to the children who participated. For that reason in 2008 after their high school graduation they recreated the 2001 newspaper photo standing directly in front of the own hand painted tiles.
Dedication Day October 2001
Dedication Day Invitation & Dedication Day Script
“It was uncanny that at 8:45 September 11th was the actual first day the bells played, and it was the Star Spangled Banner” Sarah remembers. Dedication Day was great celebration attended by a long list of Bell Tower Project visionaries, parents, staff, fundraisers, donors, helpers and residents. Sarah Smith said her fondest memory of that day was “Ruby Fields came to speak at the dedication and that was really fun”. And, “At the culmination of the event we released doves. It was perfect.”
Dolphin Chimes Stewards
This year the Lunada Bay Elementary School community welcomes a new principal, Janis Byars, and the return of its unshakable office manager Leah Maes. Maes oversees the carillon’s schedule and vast musical library of classical and popular composers.
NJ is a storyteller who has written in many voices for clients in health, education, entertainment, food, sport and politics. Her firm managed publicity for documentary films, book authors and the U.S. Championships. Now NJ represents nonprofit groups, political campaigns and lifestyle celebrities across the global environmental movement. Currently NJ is providing publicity for the July 4th Independence Day Celebration, PVJuly4.org, in her hometown. NJ received the Lynn Weaver Award from the Entertainment Professional Publicists Society for her lifelong commitment to philanthropy and community volunteerism.