Just five
miles north of downtown Greenville is the campus of Furman University, which
has been in that location since 1956. Previously it was located in Greenville;
I wrote here how the West End sprung up around the university. The liberal arts
college is SC’s oldest private university, and the very heart of the Furman
campus is the clock tower, which is located on a small peninsula that juts out
into 40-acre Swan Lake.
The
original bell tower was built in 1854 on the old men’s campus, the bells ringing
to signal the start of classes and to celebrate victories for the athletic
teams. During the Civil War Furman was closed, but the bell in the "Old
Main" tower rang after Confederate victories.
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| Photo credit: Lisa Sharpe |
Once
the university moved to its present location a new bell tower was built to the
same specifications as the old tower, the sixty bells in the carillon cast
in Holland to exactly match the original. To this day the tower's image appears on the school’s seal and official
publications.
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| Photo credit: Lisa Sharpe |
A month ago we visited the clock tower to snap some pictures of the boys for
father’s day. As I’ve been informed by babycenter.com that the baby is now about
the size of a head of romaine lettuce, I'm glad I also took the opportunity to get evidence
of the bump, as I feel as if I should be documenting this pregnancy (although it's my third). Yes, I’m sure it’s not twins, no, I’m not “going to pop any day
now.”
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| Photo credit: Lisa Sharpe |
* According
to the school's mythology, if you kiss your significant other at the tower you are
destined to marry them – hence the phrase “bell tower serious.” Guess the tower can chalk up another one to its legend...
I remember driving through the campus when I visited. The bell tower and little lake are really nice! And your friend Lisa takes some great photos - the one of the boys is adorable!!
ReplyDeleteLiene, I love that photo of your boys together! And also your gorgeous pregnancy portrait!
ReplyDelete