Indiana University of Pennsylvania will begin a new tradition with a part of IUP history.
The newly restored 150-year-old Sutton Hall bell, located on the roof of John Sutton Hall, will mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States by ringing at six times that have historical significance for that day: at 8:46 a.m., the moment hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center; at 9:03 a.m., when United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower; at 9:37 a.m., when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon; at 9:59 a.m., when the World Trade Center South Tower collapsed; at 10:03 a.m. when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, after passengers resisted the hijackers, and at 10:28 a.m. when the World Trade Center North Tower collapsed.
The Sutton Hall bell, which came to the institution in 1875 during the first year of Indiana Normal School, has been restored with an automatic, magnetized ringer striker that creates a more melodic, traditional bell sound.
The bell is made of bronze and is estimated to weigh about two tons. It is engraved with the date that it came to Indiana Normal School—Dec. 8, 1875—seven months after Indiana Normal School began operations. Four men donated $100 each to purchase the bell from Jones & Company Troy Bell Foundry in Troy, New York. The donors were D. J. Morrell, James McMillen, Edward Golden, and William Sterett.
The Sutton Hall bell in the bell tower before restoration
In 2020, IUP leadership decided to explore restoring the bell. In fall 2025, the restoration was completed, with IUP working closely with the Verdin Company of Cincinnati, an 184-year-old company that specializes in bells and clocks.
The bell restoration project was led by IUP Director of Planning and Construction Mitch Peffer, working with IUP employees and some outside contractors.
In its early days, the bell rang to signal the beginning of the day and the changing of classes. It was a “swinging bell” with an auto ringer until the 1970s, when it was restored to a stationary bell with a new auto ringer, “which is much safer” for an older building, Peffer said. The bell was used until the late 1990s when the auto ringer deteriorated.
The bell restoration required demolition of all the old equipment, “cribbing up” the bell onto temporary supports, and then building a new galvanized frame. The bell tower floor, which is part of the roof of Sutton Hall, was coated with a specialized material to maintain its longevity. The restoration also required establishing a new power source, new data cabling, and a new remote-control ringing system, controlled by computer.
Most recently, the bell was rung during the Crimson Couples vow renewal in June, part of the university’s sesquicentennial celebration. Plans are in place for it to ring during major university events, including IUP’s birthday on May 17, the opening of the academic year, the birthday of IUP mascot Norm on October 20, and celebratory events.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. IUP’s Impact 150 comprehensive campaign is designed to honor a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, public service, and leadership in healthcare education, including the first college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in the commonwealth.