The Presbyterian Church of La Porte

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Carillon Tower at The Presbyterian Church of La Porte

Longtime church member Jean Kesling, widow of orthodontic pioneer Harold D. Kesling, spent her winters in Arizona where she listened to a nearby carillon play each evening at 6 p.m.  She thought that a carillon would be a fine addition to the church and presented the idea to church leaders, who accepted it.  She died in December 1994 and left $100,000 to the church, which decided to name the instrument "The Children's Carillon" after the efforts of schoolchildren to raise money for a Meneely bell that was installed in 1871. 

The church bought 36 Petit & Fritsen bells in 1999 that were stored at the Verdin facility in Cincinnati until a suitable bell tower could be built.  The church then proceeded to raise funds for the tower, which began construction in September 2000.. 

The carillon was dedicated on May 16, 2004 by John Gouwens, who had been engaged as a consultant by the church..

References
1982 Sesquicentennial : a history of the Presbyterian Church La Porte, Indiana, 1832-1982, by Helen Kolash

1994 "Jean A. Kesling," The South Bend Tribune, December 14, 1994, Page 23

1994 Jean Allison Crawford Kesling (4 Aug 1904 - 12 Dec 1994) grave

2004 "Carillon bequest becomes a reality," The South Bend Tribune, May 14, 2004, Page D7

2004 New Carillon La Porte, World Carillon Federation

2005 Our Carillon's Story, The Presbyterian Church of La Porte Fine Arts Board

The carillon of La Porte (Indiana USA), Petit and Fritsen

© 2023 Morris A. Pierce