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Furman Bell Tower

SC PICTURE PROJECT 10 Comments

SC Picture Project / Greenville County / Furman Bell Tower

This Florentine bell tower is one of Furman University’s most beloved landmarks. Furman’s original bell tower was built in 1854 on what used to be the men’s campus in Downtown Greenville. The bells rang to signal the start of classes and to celebrate victories for the athletic teams. Classes at Furman were disbanded during the Civil War, but the bells in the tower were rung to announce Confederate victories.

Furman University Bell Tower

Blaine Owens of Greenville © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The original bell tower was not freestanding but connected to “Old Main” or, as it later became known, Richard Furman Hall. It was designed by Edward C. Jones of Jones and Lee, a prominent architectural firm in Charleston that also designed many other buildings such as Old Main at Wofford in Spartanburg, the Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg, much of Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, and several other churches and buildings in Charleston (1).

Furman University Tower Greenville

Jay Capilo of Simpsonville, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The new bell tower, dedicated in May of 1965, was built to the same specifications as the old tower. It bears a plaque at its base honoring Alester Garden Furman, grandson of Furman’s first president, James Clement Furman. The younger Furman graduated in 1914 and became a major financial donor to the college. Fifteen months later, the tower’s 60-bell carillon was named for John Edward Burnside, a 1917 graduate and successful financier. The bells were custom cast in Holland.

Furman University

Calvin Kelley, Sr. of Mauldin, 2009 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Unlike its predecessor, today’s tower stands alone on a small peninsula in Furman Lake. Linking the past with the future, it represents Furman for students and alumni alike. Its iconic image appears on the school’s seal and on many of the university publications.

Autumn at Furman University Bell Tower

Christy Henderson of Belton, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Last but not least, an interesting legend surrounds the bell tower. It is said that if a man and woman kiss while inside it, they will marry. See comments from readers below for first-hand anecdotal evidence of the legend’s truth!

Old Bell Tower at Furman Hall

Old Main Bell Tower | Council of Independent Colleges

1. Many, many thanks to Tom Taylor of Greenville, not only for contributing his beautiful images of the bell tower, but also for telling us more about the tower’s origins. Tom is a graduate of Furman, and his wife is the head of the Chemistry department!

More Pictures of the Furman Bell Tower


Furman University Belltower

Tom Taylor of Greenville, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Furman Tower

Blaine Owens of Greenville © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Furman Bell Tower Portrait

Tom Taylor of Greenville, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Furman SC Bell Tower

Vincent Flores of Greer, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Furman Bell Tower Portrait

Jason Grindle of Atlanta, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Furman Bell Tower Greenville

William Armonaitis of Greer, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

“The Power of the Tower”


Photographer Calvin Kelley, Sr., says of his photo at the top of the page, “This tower has a story behind it that was recently told to me by my dentist. The story is, if you kiss your girl in the tower, she will become your bride.”

This legend seems to bear some truth! Don Lloyd from Marion County remembers spending many nights strolling the Furman campus with his future wife during their high school years in Greenville. He writes:

The bell tower was (and probably still is) the best date spot in Greenville. The lake is incredibly beautiful and always seemed to impress a date. Of course, no visit would be complete without an excursion to the tower. I suppose that my attempts to be romantic were not the real reason she married me. I now know it was the power of the tower.

Furman alumnae Laura Godfrey says that “in the spring of 2007, my senior year at Furman University, my boyfriend Mike kissed me in the belltower. I am so happy to tell you that we are getting married next summer in Furman’s Daniel Chapel. I guess the story is true!”

If you have a personal experience to back this legend up, please write us and let us know!

Plan Your Trip: Furman Bell Tower

Where is Furman Bell Tower located?
Address: 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613
GPS Coordinates: 34.927822,-82.439993
Website: http://www.furman.edu/
What else should I see?
Furman University 0 mile
Travelers Rest 4.3 miles
Old Berea School 5.1 miles
Washington High School 6.8 miles
Show me more like this!
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    Furman Bell Tower Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Enlow studio says

      January 6, 2018 at 6:34 PM

      Are you allowed to take photos In and around the tower? I am a photographer looking for a beautiful places such as this for an up coming engagement shoot.

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        January 7, 2018 at 12:57 AM

        Yes, you can! It is gorgeous.

        Reply
    2. Tom Taylor says

      October 6, 2016 at 8:15 AM

      The original Belltower was designed by Edward C. Jones, prominent architect from Charleston that designed many other buildings such as Old Main on the Wofford College campus in Spartanbug, the Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg, much of Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, and several other churches and buildings in Charleston.

      I have many memories of this Belltower from when I was a student there. One of my good friends was the carillon play. I got to play the bells a couple of times. I also rappelled down the side of the Belltower from the top (clandestinely, late one night.) When we had a Frisbee break, we would give it a “burial at sea” by launching it into the lake from the upper floors of the tower (an environmentally unfriendly act that we would never do now.) Sadly, the upper floors are no longer accessible to the public. I’m hoping our college pranks had nothing to do with that.

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        October 10, 2016 at 9:48 AM

        Thank you for these great details, Tom!

        Reply
    3. Franci says

      November 22, 2014 at 4:23 PM

      May we use the images on the Spartanburg CVB FB page to promote these landmarks in Spartanburg County? They are absolutely stunning. What a thoughtful project.

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        November 24, 2014 at 9:21 AM

        Hello, Franci! The photos are indeed stunning! We refer people to the photographers themselves regarding inquiries about photo use, as they are the owners of the images and generously share them with us for the SC Picture Project. Most of the images have a link to the photographers’ websites. However, if you can’t find a way to get in touch with a photographer, let us know and we will try to get you an email address. Best of luck!

        Reply
    4. Gail Karcher says

      July 23, 2012 at 5:02 PM

      Do the tower bells ring at a set time or only for special occasions? Thanks.

      Reply
    5. SCIWAY says

      November 4, 2011 at 8:30 AM

      Hi James! We’re not sure where you could get a drawing or blueprint of the tower, but I’m sure that if you contacted Furman University they could point you in the right direction. You can also find more information on the following page:

      http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p674

      Reply
    6. James Valentine says

      November 2, 2011 at 8:49 AM

      Where can one get a detailed drawing of the tower with its dimensions? How tall is it and how wide is it and other stats on the tower?

      Reply

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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