Tuesday, November 16, 1999
Miniatures of Peace Bell are appealing
17,000 sold; more on way
BY CLIFF PEALE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Tristaters are buying up miniatures of the World Peace Bell.
(Patrick Reddy photo)
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Seeking a New Year's Eve celebration for participants around the region, organizers of Greater Cincinnati's Millennium celebration have sold about 17,000 miniature versions of the World Peace Bell.
“We wanted to create some activity in which the entire community could participate, whether you're staying at home, going to a party or celebrating in a religious capacity,” said Jennifer Frutkin, executive director of Greater Cincinnati 2000.
Cincinnati's Verdin Co. has contracted with a foundry in France to make more of the bells nonstop through the end of the year, Ms. Frutkin said. It hopes to produce up to 30,000.
“We're making them as fast as we can make them,” said Jim Verdin, president of Verdin Co.
The bronze bells cost $9.95 and went on sale Thursday at the 14 area Graeter's locations. They sold out Saturday, but some stores continued to take orders through the weekend.
The cost covers manufacturing and packaging. A portion of proceeds from each purchase will be dedicated to a scholarship named after the late Eric Bachmann, one of the original staff members at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Verdin helped make the original World Peace Bell, which is on display at Fourth and Monmouth streets in Newport. At 33 tons, it is the world's largest swinging bell and will swing for the first time on New Year's Eve, Ms. Frutkin said.
The smaller bells are not exact replicas. They are inscribed with the Jan. 1, 2000, date and the message “World Peace Bell” or “Greater Cincinnati's Ring for Peace.”
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