By 6:15 a.m. on Thursday, the louvers had been removed from the side of the Old Main bell tower facing the parking lot, in preparation for the removal of the Old Main Bell. The the 138-year-old, 1,200-pound bell is being removed to be restored and placed on permanent display adjacent to Old Main, as a gift from the class of 2009.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

The Old Main Bell has been removed from its perch in the Old Main Bell Tower, and sits ready for its move. The bell will be taken to Church Specialities for refurbishing, and eventually will be on display near Old Main. The project is a gift of the class of 2009.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

Workers from New Vibrations Audio and Video hoist a beam out the opening of the Old Main Bell Tower. The beam is part of the support structure being put in place to hoist the Old Main Bell out of the tower so it can be taken for refurbishing.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

Brian Michaels, foreground, and Andy Besecker work on the scaffolding set in the balcony portion of the Old Main Bell Tower for the removal of the Old Main Bell.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

Brian Michaels cuts the support beam on the Old Main bell down to size while Andy Besecker steadies it. The beam had to be cut so it and the bell will fit through the opening in the bell tower. The men work for New Vibrations Audio and Video, the service technicians for Church Specialities, where the bell is headed for refurbishing.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

The crane pulled into the Old Main parking lot at about 8:45 a.m. to set up for the moving of the Old Main Bell.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

Workers attached a weighted trash can to the crane's hook so the hook would not swing as it was lifted to the Old Main bell tower.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

A crowd of media and curious bystanders gathered to watch the removal of the Old Main Bell from the bell tower.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

Brian Michaels of New Vibrations Audio and Video gives a thumbs-up sign to the crane operator as the crane hook is positioned in just the right spot for the bell to be attached.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

Employees inside Old Main got a bird's eye view of the moving of the Old Main Bell.

Photo Credit: Laura Stocker

Year Taken: 2009

Although it appears to be a small decoration hanging from a tree, in reality the 1,200-pound Old Main Bell is being lowered to the ground by a large crane, whose hook is only partially visible through the top of the leaves.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

Workers stabilize the Old Main Bell as it is lowered near the ground during its removal from the bell tower.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

Jill Caffrey, a member of the class gift committee for 2009, was the first of several people who got to ring the Old Main Bell after it was removed from the bell tower. Once it is refurbished, the bell will be put on display near Old Main so it can be seen by everyone. Until today, the bell was in the bell tower, which was open to the public only a few times a year.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

After the ceremonial ringing of the Old Main Bell, workers took measurements of the bell to record its dimensions.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

The Old Main Bell is lifted back up, headed for the truck that will take it to Church Specialities for refurbishing.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

The Old Main Bell is lowered into the bed of the pickup truck that will take it to Church Specialities for refurbishing.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

The truck drives away with the Old Main Bell, headed for Church Specialities for refurbishing. The project is a gift of the class of 2009.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009