Deer Park Bicentennial: Throwback Thursday | April 2, 2026
The Amity school bell is a relic of Deer Park Schools that has touched three different centuries and served three different buildings. Although its most important duty was calling children to school, it had many other roles through its more than 150 years. For these reasons the bell was given the distinction of being the centerpiece of the district’s bicentennial logo. On the logo, four stars border the bell symbolizing Deer Park High School, Holmes, Howard and Amity Elementary Schools. The bold bicentennial banner and years 1826-2026 celebrate two centuries of Deer Park Schools.
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Journey of a School Bell:
For decades, the deep, rich sound of the Amity School Bell could be heard in the community that surrounded Plainfield Pike and Amity Road as it called students to the start of a new day of learning. The bronze bell was cast in 1874 by the Buckeye Bell Foundry by the W. W. Vanduzen Co. of Cincinnati, one of the largest producers of bronze bells in the United States at the time. Bronze bells were more expensive to produce than cast iron or cast steel bells and were not as commonly used for school bells in rural areas such as Deer Park was at the time.
Buckeye Bell Foundry of Cincinnati
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The bell was purchased for $108 and was hung in the belfry of the small 1871 schoolhouse which stood near the intersection of what is today Plainfield Road and Donna Lane. (1) For many years, the bell’s sound resonated through the rural district every morning. When the community outgrew this school it was so fond of, the bell tolled the building’s closing. A new Amity welcomed students in 1907, and the bell was moved to the belfry of the new school and remained in use there announcing the start and ending of the school day for twenty more years. (2,3)
As Deer Park Village grew, there was a need for more classrooms, and in 1926-27 an east wing was added to Amity School. Besides being enlarged, the façade of the building was changed to modernize it, and in so doing the belfry was removed from the school. (1,2) William Langhorst, a member of the Board of Education, bought the bell from the contractor doing the renovations. (1) Langhorst was a local dairyman and may have installed the bell on his farm. His actions likely saved the bell from being lost from the district.
The bell remained out of service until years later when the United States entered World War II. At that time the Langhorst family returned the bell, yoke and bell wheel to Amity so it could once again be placed in the school and be used as an air raid alarm for the students’ safety. (4) It was likely positioned on the top floor of the high school wing which had been added in the 1930s.
Class Officers with bell, 1948
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When the new high school on Plainfield Road opened in 1952, the school bell was moved from its Amity site. The bell was placed in the front foyer of the high school where it remained on display welcoming all who passed by for the next two decades.
Class officers with bell in Deer Park High School foyer, 1956
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In the 1970s, a new tradition began of using the bell to celebrate home football victories on the field. The bell was removed from its yoke and bell wheel that had held it for nearly a century. It was mounted to a trailer that was wheeled onto the football field for home games. When the team was victorious, the bell was rung to celebrate the victory. However, rolling the cumbersome trailer carrying a heavy bell onto the grassy football field was not an easy task, and the effort to begin a new tradition was soon abandoned. (3)
During the Iran Hostage Crisis from late 1979 to early 1981, the high school student council used the bell to join a national movement of remembering the American diplomats being held captive. U.S. churches, schools and other institutions rang bells at noon each day as a national symbol of hope and unity. Our own bell was dubbed the “liberty” bell and was rung daily to honor the 52 American hostages. (5)
Deer Park High School students ring the bell in support of American hostages.
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For a period of time, the trailer and attached bell remained in open storage in a garage near the industrial arts shop. Mr. Hauser, the industrial arts teacher, had the foresight to move the bell to a small closet and place it under a table to protect it and save it for posterity. Unfortunately, the bell was in poor shape by this time. The yoke and bell wheel had long since been gone. The clapper had been lost, and the surface was marred. The rim of the bell was jagged from damage over time. By the 1990s the bell had disappeared from view as well as from the memories of many. By the time the 21st century began, few people realized the bell still existed. (3)
High school history teacher and Deer Park alum, Paul Herbert began a “Restore the Bell” campaign which had good support. However, the cost of restoring the bell and providing it a new yoke and bell wheel was out of reach, and the movement lost momentum. Fortunately, the bell didn’t remain hidden away. Alan Keller, a boy scout, took on the task of polishing the bell, building a stand and making a display case as an Eagle Scout project. When completed, the bell was returned to the high school foyer where it was once again on display for students and visitors. (3)
A few years later the bell was on the move again. During Amity’s 100th Birthday celebration in 2006-07, the bell was returned to Amity to recollect the more than 50 years it hung in an Amity belfry. It was placed in the main entrance and was enjoyed by many during the celebration year. It was decided the bell should remain at Amity since so much of its history was tied to the school.
Bell in new display case, 2007
The bell sat outside Amity’s office where the secretary had a direct view of it. As luck would have it, one of those secretaries had a particular interest in the bell because her husband was a master founder for Verdin Bell Company. He examined the bell and graciously volunteered to repair the damage, polish it, and make a new clapper and stand. Thanks to Ralph Jung’s generosity and expertise the bell was beautifully refurbished and could ring out loud and clear once again.
The condition of the bell before restoration began in 2013
Bell after restoration - 2014
The bell’s journey wasn’t complete. When the Amity building was expanded and renovated in 2017-2018, the architects were asked to give the bell a place of prominence. They designed a bell tower to be placed in the entrance lobby to honor not only the bell but also the district’s oldest artifact, the date stone from the 1871 schoolhouse.
The bell tower is a fitting tribute to the old school bell which had so many roles in its journey through Deer Park Schools’ history. It had the clarion duty of calling the district’s students to school, keeping our children safe during a time of potential danger during war, celebrating football victories, remembering Americans who were in harm's way and now proudly standing as a symbol of Deer Park Schools’ milestone of 200 years of educating generations of local students.
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Amity Bell Tower
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Sources:
- “The Bell," An unsigned, short history of the bell.
- “The Cincinnati Times Star,” December 29, 1930
- “A School Bell’s Fate – An Open Letter, Paul Herbert, Deer Park High School teacher
- “History of Deer Park Schools," An essay
- Antlers, Deer Park High School Yearbook, 1980
A sincere effort has been made to convey the history as accurately as possible from artifacts, documents and personal narratives in the district’s archives.
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Learn More
Community members, alumni, and supporters are encouraged to stay connected as the celebration approaches by signing up for Bicentennial updates on the district website.
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Don't Trash It, Donate It Instead!
Deer Park Schools is also asking alumni and community members to help preserve the district’s history. If you have Deer Park memorabilia — such as yearbooks, photographs, letterman jackets, uniforms, or other school items — please consider donating them back to the district so they can be featured during bicentennial celebrations.
Alumni & Community Story Submission
As Deer Park Schools prepares to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2026, we are collecting memories, photos, and memorabilia from alumni and community members to help tell the story of Deer Park Schools.
If you have a favorite memory, historic photo, or item connected to Deer Park Schools, we would love to hear from you.
Your submission may be featured in Bicentennial displays, district publications, social media features, or community events throughout the celebration.
Submit a Story
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