Restored 300-pound bronze bell helps ring in Colorado School of Mines history
Commemorative bell was unveiled during Blaster’s Bash at Homecoming
Mines marked its 150th anniversary with a meaningful new addition to campus: a restored 300-pound bronze bell, steeped in history and tradition. This commemorative bell was unveiled during Blaster’s Bash at Homecoming in Fall 2024, as Mines students, alumni, faculty and staff all came together to celebrate the milestone.
The idea of adding another bell to campus for the university’s anniversary originated with former Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Professor Jeffrey King. When King left Mines, fellow MME professor Stephen Midson stepped in to see the project through to completion. Midson contacted McShane Bell Foundry and found they had a bell already cast around the time Mines was established. Originally cast around 1890 for a Baptist church, the bell was weathered and discolored when it was eventually salvaged by the McShane Bell Foundry after the church was reconstructed into a private residence years later.
Mines Hot Shop Manager Sarah Harling, in collaboration with Western Foundries and Art Castings of Colorado, stepped in to help refurbish the bell. Harling and her husband, Adam Zimmer, designed and cast a new yoke for the bell by scanning the original yoke and adding the commemorative dates for Mines. A 3D-printed sand mold was made from the design and poured at Western Foundries. The bell itself was cleaned and a new patina was applied by Art Castings of Colorado.
The Class of 1974—which celebrated their 50th class reunion in 2024—dedicated the bell to Mines and helped fund the restoration and installation on campus. The bell now stands in its permanent place in front of Guggenheim Hall, and graduating students can ring the bell to signify their achievement and Mines pride.
“I hope the bell will be a tradition for Mines where all students can feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when they ring the bell to tell the world that they are done and are a graduate of Colorado School of Mines,” said Jeff Epstein ’87, a director on the Mines Alumni Board and metallurgical and materials engineering graduate who played a role in bringing the bell to campus. “Traditions connect students and alumni from one generation to the next, so I hope the bell will be a bridge where students will become active alumni for Mines. As a small school, Mines depends on alumni to engage and help build the Mines community.”
Another unique project to mark Mines’ sesquicentennial was a commemorative blade forged by metallurgical and materials undergraduate student Bryn Russell. Russell has honed his bladesmithing craft over many years and has participated in the bladesmithing course at Mines since Spring 2022 where the idea of commemorative blade first took shape.
Taking more than 500 hours to design and build, Russell forged a blade featuring more than 5,000 folds to achieve a distinctive Damascus-style pattern on the blade.
Both the guard and pommel are crafted from Damascus-style forge-welded steel. The guard is adorned with a 2-carat tanzanite gemstone in a trillion cut, resembling a Reuleaux, and set within sterling silver. The handle is crafted from blue-dyed mango wood wrapped in twisted sterling silver wire, and the blade fits snugly within a matching sheepskin leather scabbard.
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
