Tower Tunes Live Concert
A Tower Tunes Live Concert will be played by one of our Mahanay Maestros daily throughout the summer. This is dependent on the availability of the volunteer maestro.
Chews Jefferson
Chews Jefferson is an event to encourage people to choose one of our many restaurants to order take-out and then come listen to the Tower Tunes Live concert on the Mahanay Bell Tower. Each Wednesday, our Mahanay Maestro will play from 12:15 – 12:30 with a wide variety of tunes.
New Bell Tower Music Policy in Jefferson Means Music Will Ring Once Again
The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower will once again have music ringing from the 47-bells.
The Board of Supervisors approved a music policy that outlines requirements that must be followed in order for live and pre-programmed music to be played on the bell tower. Some of the main requirements include not allowing outside requests for music to be made, only certain days and times will be allowed for live performances that are performed by an approved list of 80 maestros, and pre-programmed music will be played after every top of the hour chime from 8am-8pm. The policy also stipulates from William Floyd Mahanay’s will when he donated the tower that 50-percent of the music that is played must be sacred and patriotic.
The Supervisors decided to temporarily suspend all music from the bell tower this past January after they denied a request to have patriotic music played on Inauguration Day. Since then a committee with County Attorney Thomas Laehn, some of the Supervisors and members of the Bell Tower Community Foundation worked to draft the finalized policy.
Supervisor Chair John Muir believes the policy makes it more official of the previous agreement between the County and the Bell Tower Community Foundation, which is the organization that helps to enhance the bell tower.
“We took for granted how it was ran, what went on and what decisions were made. It was pointed out to us that there were some cracks that we needed to seal up to make sure we had everything covered. I think they worked together and went through it thoroughly so that everybody’s interests were taken care of.”
The Board also approved Peg Raney as the music coordinator for four years and Bill Monroe as the Mahanay Musician for four years. Raney shares her experience working on the policy as a member of the foundation.
“We appreciate that the Supervisors as owners of the tower itself, we really appreciate this relationship. We just really look forward to having the bells play again and see how we can move forward here this summer.”
A copy of the policy can be found below.
April 28, 2021 – Raccoon Valley Radio
October Hours at Tower
During the month of October, the Mahanay Bell Tower will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The bells continue to chime each quarter hour and play several songs after each hour. The observation deck is reached by elevator. Covid -19 precautions have been implemented for the safety of our visitors and staff. Masks are required to enter the Tower and limited numbers in the observation deck at a time. The staff is delighted to explain more about the Tower right outside the entrance door on the Bell Tower Plaza.
Autumn is a beautiful time of year to visit the Mahanay Bell Tower. The colors in the downtown and surrounding rural area are breathtaking! Visitors of all ages enjoy viewing the peaceful landscape while listening to the four octave carillon throughout the day.
Tours are also available by appointment by calling the Jefferson Matters: Main Street & Chamber at 515-386-2155.
Youth 18 & under are free courtesy of the Greene County School Foundation! Adults are $3.
Tower Tunes Live Concert cancelled
We are sorry that this concert needs to be cancelled as work on the broken windows from the derecho will be done on Wednesday so the Tower will be closed. Thank you for understanding.
Mahanay Minute with Rick Morain
Take a listen to this interview with local musician Rick Morain who continues to share his talent with the community by playing the carillon for the Tower Tunes Live concerts.
Bell Tower Coloring Pages
Now that the mini bell towers are in place for 2020, do you have some ideas for how to decorate the Mahanay Bell Tower? Here are a few coloring pages that can be printed. Color your own bell tower and share with us on our Facebook page – Mahanay Bell Tower with the #IHeartBigBellsJeffersonIowa. The world wants to see your ideas!
Thanks to Kevin Richards for his drawings for this project!
Tower Tunes Live- Community Easter Sing-Along
The Bell Tower Community Foundation has scheduled a special Tower Tunes Live-Community Easter Sing-Along event for Easter Sunday. Becky Greiner will play Easter hymns on Easter Sunday, April 12 at 12:15 pm on the Mahanay Carillon in downtown Jefferson. This event is not just a concert, but a community sing-along in the local homes. The hymns are a selection of familiar and beloved songs for all denominations. Step outside on your porch or driveway, or park your car and join in singing. Foundation members encourage the public to participate through the social distancing guidelines.
Because of Easter Sunday services cancelled in local churches, the Mahanay Bell Tower offers a unifying musical opportunity to worship together on Easter Sunday. The bells continue to play each hour digitally with the Westminster Chimes at each quarter hour and several selections after each hour.
The list of hymns that will be played are listed below and the public is encouraged to access the lyrics by googling each or find them in your own hymnals. A couple of verses of each hymn will be played.
Please join the community at the Tower Tunes Live – Community Easter Sing-Along on Easter Sunday.
Selections will include:
Christ, the Lord, is Risen Today
Just As I Am
How Great Thou Art
Amazing Grace
Rock of Ages
I Know that My Redeemer Lives
My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Blessed Assurance
Beautiful Savior
Certified Tour Guides
Two of our Bell Tower staff have become certified tour guides. Joyce Kurth, newest member of the Tower staff, and Pat Richards, Tower staff coordinator, attended a day-long session on tour guide training put on by Iowa State Extension in early April. They worked through the guide book they were given to fine-tune their tour-giving skills. In early May, each gave a sample tour to Diane Van Wyngarden, ISU Extension Specialist in Tour Guide Training and Certification at the Mahanay Bell Tower. Diane commented that she thoroughly enjoyed the tours, learned more about what we have to offer tourists in Greene County, and thought we were far and above many other towns in Iowa! And….Joyce and Pat are now officially certified and working on a list of tips for our staff. Congratulations to both of the ambassadors to the community!
