Re-crowning of The 1895

The bell tower went back to the top of The 1895 on Tuesday after more than 85 years just in time for Rockdale's Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Fabrication of the steel frame of the bell tower began in December 2022, and was transported to the east lot of The 1895 in January 2023, where crews worked on various aspects of the bell tower through 2023. With the exception of the brickwork, much of the bell tower re-construction has been done by Perry & Perry Builders on an in-kind donation basis.

On Jan. 2, a test lift of the completed bell tower was conducted to ascertain its final weight of 84,000 pounds. Engineers confirmed the finished weight was within tolerance of the architecturally specified vertical and horizontal steel support beams which Perry & Perry Builders recently installed in the interior and rooftop of The 1895.

“This will be a significant step toward the completion of Phase One of The 1895’s restoration,” stated Board President, Dell Perry Giles. “It will be a momentous occasion for the community, and we believe The 1895 will be a beautiful beacon of hope and pride – re-establishing it as the visual centerpiece in Rockdale’s skyline.”

Once the bell tower is in place, Perry & Perry Builders will install new roof trusses on the front 20 percent of the building, re-establishing the historic roof line of The 1895. Brick masons, Yeatts Enterprises, will return to complete the top of the turrets flanking the bell tower and GrandChamp Roofing will install standing-seam metal roofing by Aggieland Metalworks on the bell tower, turrets and roof to the back of the bell tower. Historically accurate reproduction windows and doors, constructed by Austin Historical, have been stained (interiors) and painted (exteriors) by Friendship Painting, and will be installed by Cardinal Roofing once roof work is completed. The final step will be to finish the interior trim and wall finishes on the south interior wall and bell tower observation deck and install exterior lighting.

“We are working hard to complete Phase One work by early Summer,” said board member and Arts Committee Chair, Geritt Davenport. “The Foundation will be hosting a Heritage Celebration at The 1895 on July 13 – our annual fundraising event and our contribution to Rockdale’s Sesquicentennial – during which we plan to offer tours of The 1895 and its newly reconstructed bell tower observation deck.”

For the safety of all, the sidewalks adjacent to The 1895 were closed to pedestrians. Onlookers observed from across Cameron Avenue, and behind and beside the historic building.