The Curator’s Corner:

The Bells of the Old Mission:

Although the three bells of our Old Mission are still intact in their wall niches, there is no mention of them in our mission

records. At other California Missions, mention of their bells sometimes is found in the Baptismal Register. It is noted in the Baptismal Register that the cornerstone of the present Mission Church was laid on April 25, 1782, by Padre Francisco Palou, but the records from 1785 to 1793, containing notes of building activities, are lost. According to Father Zephyrin Englhardt, the dedication of our Mission Church took place on Laetare Sunday, April 3, 1791. The oldest bell of the trio is dated a year later, although there is no written proof that this bell with the king's crown upon the side was cast especially for this mission and sent up from Mexico either in 1792, the year of its casting, or the following year. The inscription, which runs around both the upper and lower part of the waist, reads: Damian Mendosa. For the Mission Dolorosa. Francis of Monterey. Year of 1792. Our Seraphic Father St. Francis. Just who Damian Mendoza is is problematical. It could be that it was in his foundry that the bell was cast. In the early days too, Upper California was known as the Province of Monterey, as the Capital was at Monterey. 

The other two bells in the arches are a Ruelas pair of 1797, large bells, being rung instead of swung as the middle bell. The north bell's inscription reads: Ruelas Made Me 1797. And I am called Joseph, Hail Mary Most Pure.

The south bell reads: Hail Mary Most Pure. Hail Jesus. I am called Martin. 1797.

Both of these bells are a pair, as is certain to anyone who may examine them. Both are crown-topped, with four canons, and hang from their old leather thongs from the old mission beams. Therefore, our three bells are named: Francis, Joseph, and Martin.

 To be continued…..