The Carillon Tower was a great undertaking for Frank Stanley Beveridge. Funds for building the Tower, which was approximately $100,000, were raised by Stanley Home Associates over a 3-year period. The facing of the 98-foot Tower is made of Indiana limestone and topped with a gold leaf dome. Inside the Tower are stained glass windows that depict nature throughout Stanley Park. Above the back, inside entrance is a plaque of the Jewish faith’s version of the 10 commandments. The original English and Flemish bells, installed in the cupola, are a project envisioned by Mr. Beveridge. The English bells are associated with the church towers of England. The Flemish bells are copies of the carillons found in the Low Countries of Europe. The original oak doors were replaced many years ago with massive bronze doors. Each door has seven relief sculptures portraying various aspects of Stanley Park and Stanley Home Products. At the front entrance way, leading to the bronze doors is a twenty-three by thirty-foot map of the United States and Canada. The map is comprised of slate that was imported from the state of New York.
The construction of the Tower was completed in 1950. Numerous messages congratulating Frank Stanley Beveridge for the special occasion were received from many including Sir Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Eleanor Roosevelt. The Carillon Tower was dedicated on June 4, 1950, in the interest of peace and understanding of the peoples of the world in a national broadcast ceremony on the ABC radio. It is said that 10,000 people attended the dedication and traffic was backed-up for 10 miles. Warren Austin, First Ambassador to the United Nations, was the keynote speaker. Mr. Beveridge’s speech was entitled “Peace of the World”.
In 2019, due to its age and the harsh New England weather conditions, planning began for the Carillon Tower Repair and Restoration Project. The project was a success, and the Carillon Tower was rededicated on Jun 4, 2022. It remains to be one of the favorite landmarks of Stanley Park.
View our Events page to see when the next Carillon Concert is featuring the Carillon Bells.
