On August 18, 2024 a concert by George Leggiero, Keiran Cantilina, and Patrick Macoska celebrated the start of the final phase of the carillon’s restoration and renovation. Within days the instrument was disassembled and plans were made for the spring installation of the new framing, bells, and playing mechanism.
Some of the smaller bells on display before they were crated up for their trip back to The Netherlands.
The twenty-four smallest bells are making a trip back to The Netherlands, to the shop where they were cast and tuned in 1968. They are needed to fabricate the new framing, clappers, and mechanism. Before they were packed up, they were on display and people had a rare chance to be close to them and even get to try ringing them.
Redmar Willems, Eelco Eijer, and Frank Reemers, from Royal Eijsbouts, the Dutch firm who cast the original McGaffin Bells in 1968 came to disassemble the carillon and get the tower ready for the spring re-installation of the instrument. After their ten days, the bells and their tools are packed and ready for the trip back to The Netherlands.