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By Mike Governale

Every so often we’re contacted by a lucky homeowner who discovers a neat little historical treasure hidden away in their basement or roof rafters – usually an old book or a subway token. Then there’s Bill Schmidt. When Bill purchased his home on Lake View Park this summer, he became the lucky owner of an old bell tower from the long-demolished School #7 in northwest Rochester…

Bill’s house is a SUPER cool 1911 Victorian with nearly all of its charming details and features still intact. It’s got quite a history too. At one time the home was owned by Fred Tobin, president of Rochester Packing Company ; one of the largest meat processors in the world at the time and innovator of the famed White Hot. Sadly, Tobin’s son, Donald C. Tobin committed suicide at the age of 23 by leaping from the south rail of the Driving Park Bridge.

The house does need some work. A paint job for sure, and some windows repaired. But Bill’s biggest project is hiding here beneath the overgrowth in the back yard.

In 1968, School #7 (located around the corner at 219 Pierpont Street ) was demolished. The homeowner at the time, John Halter, saw the school’s bell cupola sitting on the school grounds and asked the owner of Atlas Wrecking if they would move it to his back yard. They did, and Halter made good use of it for years as a gazebo.

Fast forward to 2015 and Bill Schmidt now feels like he’s hit the jackpot. “This has got to be the best find for me yet! This bell tower is 113 years old and is still sitting in a backyard on Lake View Park where it was rigged into place in 1968.”

Bill says he would like to restore it but acknowledges he will need the help of a few professionals. “I have Wegman Hardwoods willing to help with the wood work,” he says. “I also have an offer from Spring Sheet Metal to bring in a crane to move it for me.”

So where will he move the 20 foot high structure to? One idea, he says, is to have it placed in the street out front of his house so the public can enjoy it. Lake View Park has a wide tree-lined median running down the center of it where the tower would fit nicely.

Here’s an example of another school bell tower that adorns a playground in Elkin, North Carolina.

The actual bell (shown above) is still on display inside the “new” Virgil I. Grissom School #7. When it was still active, the bell was rung by “model students” of the school at the start and end of each school day.

Bill says he won’t be able to start work on the cupola until next Spring at the earliest. Right now he’s preoccupied with the painting of his house. But as he gets into the project he promises to keep RocSubway updated so we all can follow along with the progress.

History of School #7

Click on the image above for a larger view of the news clipping.

Click on the image above for a larger view of the news clipping.

You Can Help

If you have experience with restorations, or know anyone who would like to assist with this effort, please contact us at [email protected] and I will put you in touch with Bill.

Tags: architecture, demolition, Dewey Avenue, Fairview Heights, historic preservation, Lake View Park, Pierpont Street, Rochester, Rochester NY, school bell tower, Virgil I. Grissom School #7

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 1st, 2015 at 11:15 pm and is filed under Architecture, Rochester History, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.