History of Naperville's Millennium Carillon
History of Naperville's Millennium Carillon
Late 1997 -- Carillon idea first suggested by Chuck Seidel
Feb. 28, 1998 -- Stephanie Penick makes first formal pitch in front of a Celebration 2000 committee for a 49-bell carillon costing $1 million atop Rotary Hill
March 1998 -- Celebration 2000 group pulls out of monument plans, suggests supporters start their own group
August 1998 -- Naperville Carillon Foundation created; cost for expanded carillon now exceeds $1.5 million
October 1998 -- Royal Eijsbouts, of Asten, the Netherlands, chosen to create the 72 bells
December 1998 -- Bells go on sale to the public, costing between $2,000 and $70,000
April 1999 -- Harold and Margaret Moser donate $1 million to the foundation; the tower is named in their honor
April 1999 -- Carillon cost increases to $2.7 million
May 1999 -- The White House designates Naperville a "Millennium Community" for its carillon efforts
May 4, 1999 -- The last bell, costing $30,000, is purchased by an anonymous donor
May 8, 1999 -- The carillon's biggest bell, "Big Joe," weighing 5.8 tons, arrives in Naperville
June 11, 1999 -- Ceremonial groundbreaking held at the base of Rotary Hill
Aug. 18, 1999 -- Construction begins
November 1999 -- Cost estimates reach $6.5 million; the project is broken into two phases
December 1999 -- Naperville's Schoenherr family buys computer system to play songs on the carillon
January 2000 -- Illinois gives $100,000 for carillon construction
March 15, 2000 -- Carillon stands at 79 feet, one-half its final size
March 24, 2000 -- "Big Joe" installed
April 3, 2000 -- The remaining 71 bells arrive in Naperville
April 11, 2000 -- Dutch crews arrive to install the bells in partially completed tower
April 23, 2000 -- Last bell installed
May 18, 2000 -- The final piece of concrete is installed, reaching the top height of 158 feet
April 2000 -- First tune is played on the carillon, the Beatles' "Yesterday"
June 29, 2000 -- First official concert
September 2005 -- Naperville City Council votes to take over the carillon and use culture fund money to finish construction of Moser Tower
December 2005 -- Carillon shut down for short time after chunks of the concrete tower come loose from decay
September 2006 -- City pays off carillon's loan
May 2006 -- Second phase of construction begins
July 29,2007 -- Moser Tower dedicated, observation deck and renovated visitors center are unveiled
Source: Daily Herald reports