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Carillon back up and running in Augusta
Friday, June 27, 2008 12:14 AM EDT
Keeping the music playing from the carillon in this Ohio River city has been an interesting endeavor for resident Al Cigolotti.
Since its installation in the Augusta Independent School tower nearly a decade ago, there have been times the melodical mechanism has also brought comical comments to the streets of Augusta.
"First it was the pigeons. The speakers are in the tower and the pigeons got in until some screens were installed. Over the years the screens have been opened again ... back came the pigeons. Other than that, it had been doing pretty well for all these years ... then back in March it began playing Christmas music," Cigolotti said. "'Jingle Bells' in March was interesting."
A trip to the repair shop was thought to have corrected the problem, but when the carillon was reinstalled it had to be reprogrammed; it is a computerized device with four speakers in the school tower.
"It worked right for about a week, playing from what is called the outside chip; then it reverted to the inside chip and holiday music again," he said.
Each chip, costing in the neighborhood of $100 contains 12-24 songs, in different themes from holiday to seasons of the year and patriotic.
A call brought a technician from Verdin Bell, which created the carillon when the Augusta Rotary Club purchased it as a gift to the city of Augusta. It was re-dedicated in memory of Rosemary Clooney a few years later. Rotary Club continues to maintain the unit, Cigolotti said.
"He said it had to go back to the shop. There was a switch which needed to be replaced. It's back and it appears to be working fine now," he said.
Playing tunes at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. every day and an extra set at 1 p.m. on weekends, the chime-like tones of the carillon can be heard across much of the community.
"It depends on the weather, traffic ... and sometimes a train rumbles, but on a clear day when all is quiet it is really nice to hear," Cigolotti said. "People who live nearby seem to like it and appreciate it."
Well, almost everybody.
"There was a lady a few years back who came home from work at 4 p.m. and it bothered her; we finally moved the east facing speaker, so there are two speakers facing west and one each north and south now," he said.
The recent repairs cost more than $600 of Rotary Club funds, he said.
During a recent Rotary Club meeting, maintenance funding issues for the carillon were discussed, said Steve Miller, Augusta-Bracken County Tourism Director.
Rotary Club sponsors events throughout the year which help fill its coffers to support community issues in Augusta, officials said.
The carillon is one of many projects the club has supported in some way, including renovation of the caboose on Main Street and scholarships at the high school.
For Rotary Club information contact John White at 606-756-2293.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 276.
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