The beautiful brass bell that is mounted outside the front entrance to Trinity Lutheran Church has an interesting and unique history. The Bell was donated to Trinity by Don and Cynthia Tusher after their move to Florida in 2022.
Cynthia's father, Fredrick Conrad, was Manager of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company plant in Topeka, Kansas for many years. In 1955 or 1956, in recognition of the outstanding business relationship between Goodyear and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, two locomotive bells were awarded to Goodyear by the Railroad, one to Mr. Conrad and one for the Topeka Plant.
The Bell is made of brass and was mounted atop the front of a locomotive that hauled many railroad cars of tires built at the Topeka plant to locations around the country. At the time, locomotive engineers were required to ring the Bell before entering a railroad crossing zone. If you are old enough, you have heard the Bell and know that the clanging sound seems to travel forever!
When Mr. Conrad retired in 1966, the Bell was installed at Cynthia's family home and her mother would often ring the Bell to let her father, who was working in the field or barn, know it was time to come to dinner! If you get a chance to hear the Bell ring, you will know that it is impossible to ignore!
When Cynthia's parents moved to a retirement home, they passed on the Bell to Cynthia and her husband, Don. Don was also an employee of Goodyear and he and Cynthia moved all over the world...and the Bell moved with them! The Bell's final home was in Gadsden, atop a wooded hill next to their home. On special family occasions, the Tushers loved to ring the Bell in celebration!!
While in Gadsden, the Tushers were long-time members of Trinity and very involved with various church activities. The landscaping around the church was done by Cynthia as part of a Master Gardeners program.
When Cynthia and Don planned to sell their home and move to Florida to be closer to their daughter, there was never any doubt as to where they wanted the Bell to end up...as a heartfelt gift to Trinity Lutheran Church!Â
Cynthia's wish to Trinity was for us "to enjoy the Bell and let it ring to bring new members to the Lord!"