Ring That Bell

Dear Boo and Bubble,

A friend of mine posted a picture of the Furman University bell tower that stands poised at one end of the lake on the campus near Travelers Rest, SC.  It’s not the authentic tower, just a replica of the one that was built in 1854 for the original men’s campus on top of University Ridge in downtown Greenville.  

Great Granddaddy Schaefer graduated from Furman and taught Business Law there for over forty years.  He became somewhat of a school legend over that time and one of the most famous exploits had to do with the bell tower.

It was in the 1950’s – the glory days of Furman basketball when players like Frank Selvy (who is the only person to ever shoot 100 points in a game – I was there at Textile Hall when he did it against Newberry College), Neild Gordon and Darrell Floyd lit up the hardwood. 

The teams were so successful that the ringing of the bell in the tower after a victory became a common ritual for students.  This created quite a ruckus in the surrounding neighborhoods because of the noise.  So many people complained to then president, John Plyler, that he instituted a moratorium.  No more bell ringing.  

At the time, one of Granddaddy’s very best friends was History professor Winston Babb.  A most convivial man with razor-sharp wit and clever sense of devilment, Dr. Babb and Granddaddy shared many good times together, including basketball games.  If Furman played at home, you’d find them at Textile Hall.  For away games, the two huddled around a radio until the final buzzer. 

One night, Furman played much renowned, feared and severely higher-ranked New York University in Madison Square Garden.  Even with the stellar roster on Furman’s team, the contest was billed as a David & Goliath affair with Furman having no chance other than that of a good visit to the Big Apple. Granddaddy and Dr. Babb listened intently as the game unfolded.  Back and forth it went until Furman miraculously pulled off the upset. 

“This calls for one thing,” Dr. Babb said to Granddaddy.  “And, you know what it is.”

“Ringing the bell!”

The two got in Granddaddy’s car and drove over to the campus.  They parked some distance away from the tower in order not to be detected by the campus police.  Since the door to the tower was padlocked, the major obstacle to their plan was actually getting inside to go up the steps to the bell.  The tower had ventilation windows all the way up, the lowest being about ten feet off the ground. 

“Here, Winston, let me put my back to the tower and cup my hands.  You can step in my hands and hoist yourself onto my shoulders.  That should get you high enough to go through the window.  Then lean back out and grab my hands so I can shinny up.” 

Dr. Babb did just that.  It worked like a charm and within seconds the two professors found themselves inside the bell tower.  They scrambled up the steps to the top and began ringing the bell with gusto. 

The reaction was instantaneous – lights turned on all over the surrounding area. 

They knew they had only a few minutes before the police would be at the base of the tower.  The ten-foot drop from the window seemed much easier to negotiate going down. Dr. Babb jumped first, then Granddaddy. 

RRRRRipppppppp!!

Granddaddy hit the ground safely, but left a patch of cloth from his pants snagged on a nail sticking out from the tower.  It was too high to grab, so the two bolted back to the car as fast as they could, leaving the incriminating evidence dangling behind.

The following morning, Dr. Plyler’s office was inundated with calls protesting the breach of silence from the bell tower.  The campus police brought him the swatch of cloth.  It could have been anybody’s, but he had a hunch who might have perpetrated this heinous crime against the audio sensitivities of Furman’s nearby neighbors.

A few days later, he called Granddaddy to come over for a chat.

“I guess you’ve heard about the bell incident the other night, Schaefer.”

“Yes, John, I have.”

Dr. Plyler looked squarely into Granddaddy’s eyes.

“Do you know anything about it?”

I don’t know verbatim what Granddaddy’s answer was, but I can guarantee you he said something that sounded like a denial, but upon closer examination could be perceived as an admission.  He was a lawyer, you know.

“Well, thank you for coming in, Schaefer,” Dr. Plyler said as Granddaddy got up to leave.

As Granddaddy made it to the door thinking he had gotten away with the prank, Dr. Plyler called him back.

“Just one more thing…….I may not ever know for sure who did this…..but I sure wish I had thought of it myself!”