Bell continues to toll after 133 years

RINGING OUT: Masterton South Rotary Club representative Julie Millar (left) cuts the ribbon and Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson unveils a plaque at the opening of the refurbished bell tower on Friday. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Pupils at Masterton Primary School will be again tolled to class after the official unveiling of their historical school bell tower.

Principal Sue Walters spoke at the unveiling ceremony on Friday and thanked the corps of workers and supporters who had helped build and paint the retro-fitted bell tower, which replaced dilapidated housing that had rotting timbers.

Organisations and individuals involved in the bell tower work included former MPS teacher Sara Feringa, who launched an appeal to restore the bell tower, the Masterton Rotary Club, Watermart roofers, Carters, Loader Engineering, 2K Design, Master Blasters, MB Brown, Trevor Clayton, Ian De La Haye, Mervyn Brown, and MPS caretaker Anthony Feringa.

Ms Walters said the tower and the more than 130-year-old bell - topped with a mostly original weather vane - were "iconic" and the bell appeared in the MPS logo alongside the school maxim, Motivated Positive Successful.

Masterton Rotary Club president Julie Millar cut the ribbon before assembled pupils and teachers to officially open the refurbished bell tower at the Friday ceremony and Mayor of Masterton Lyn Patterson unveiled a plaque set on to the tower.

Mr Brown, who had been pivotal in the refurishment project, had tolled the bell for the first time in its new housing.

Ms Walters said the bell had tolled down the years since Masterton School was first opened on the corner of Lincoln Rd and Chapel St in 1865.

"The number of students at the school increased to 519 and it was moved to a bigger site between Queen St and Chapel St in 1882 and the school was used as a district high school for two years," she said.

"In 1882 the school committee asked the Education Board for a school bell and it is that bell which hangs in the bell tower today. It was first rung on April 24, 1882."

Ms Walters said the bell tower had formerly looked down from above the main entrance to the school, and for a time was also used as a fire alarm for the Kuripuni end of Masterton. In 1970 the school moved again to South Rd, and the present site of MPS, "and the bell and bell tower came too".

In 2004 Masterton Central School merged with Harley Street School and Masterton Primary School was launched, she said.

"You could say that this school is only 11 years old but at the same time, Masterton School is 140 years old and the bell - and the bell tower - have been in use for over 133 years."