Meneely Bell Foundry
The Meneely Bell Foundry of Watervliet was a prominent bell maker between the years of 1826-1951.
Andrew Meneely[edit]
Andrew Meneely was a silversmith and a chemist who created a formula for bronze bells. He founded the Meneely Bell Foundry in 1826.
Foundry[edit]
The bell foundry itself was located where there is now a Senior Citizen Center and Public Librarr at 1501 Broadway, Watervliet, NY 12189. At one point, after the death of Andrew Meneely, one of his sons began a second foundry [citiation needed].
Influence[edit]
The bells from the Meneely Foundry can be found all across the United States. They were produced at the Watervliet Foundry and shipped to the interior United States via the Hudson River. This is an excellent example of Troy's industrial influence at its full potential. Troy had both the capacity to provide industry and the latitude to ship it to the rest of the country. The bells were also shipped south, to New York city, from where they could be shipped to the rest of the world.
Notable Bells[edit]
The Meneely Foundries produced many, many, notable bells in their time. One of these is a replacement for the Liberty Bell that weighed 13,000 lbs. The weight was a thoughtful design parameter and inluded 1,000 pounds for each state (at the time). Another notable set of bells is the set of four bells that hung at the top of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower. These were able to be heard by ships at a very significant distance, and were a point of great pride for those who owned them.
Monument[edit]
In Watervliet, there is a small monument commemorating and describing the Foundry. It is pictured below.
Further Reading[edit]
Dan Meneely's Meneely Bell Online Museum
Dan Meneely's Prototype Meneely Foundries Site
Spreadsheet of Entries in Troy Meneely Ledger Book (Transcribed and Augmented by Jess Brodnax)(an Excel file)
References[edit]
1. Plaque by Meneely Bell Monument