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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.