Tuesday, June 24, 2003
BELL CASTING
It's a ringer!
Schedule of events at Cafaro Field behind Eastwood Mall in Niles:
TUESDAY
3 p.m.: Local schoolchildren help load bronze ingots into the furnace.
6 p.m.: Molten bronze is poured into a mold and left to cool overnight. The timing and process of the pour must be perfect, or a bad or incomplete bell will result.
7 p.m.: Mahoning Valley Scrappers take on the Batavia Muckdogs.
WEDNESDAY
1 p.m.: A guest climbs onto the foundry truck and breaks the bell from its mold, which is made of hardened sand and resin. Previous mold breakers include Gov. Bob Taft, Pro Football Hall of Famer Dante Lavelli and Ohio State University football star Ben Hartsock.
1:30 p.m.: Bell will be ground, polished and sandblasted in full view of the public.
6 p.m.: Bicentennial Commission dedicates the bell and presents it to county commissioners. A guest rings the bell first. After the dedication, the public is invited to ring the bell.