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Historic Capitol of the Chickasaw Nation. Site Marker: Chikasha Tulli Ola - Chickasaw Capitol Bell.
About 1859, the Chickasaw government purchased an iron bell to be hung in
the first Chickasaw capitol building. It was used to summon tribal members
to special meetings and to signal emergencies in the community. Depending
on the type of ring made by the appointed toller, the community would know
whether it was a meeting or a death. Chickasaw people within ear shot
would stop their daily activities and travel to the capitol to hear vital
information that affected their lives. This bell, standing two feet and
weighing approximately three hundred pounds, remained there until 1890. At
that time it was removed and placed upon a stump of a large Bois D Arc
tree near the capitol building. After construction of the new capitol in
1898 the bell remained outside the building suspended from a tripod. On
November 16, 1909, the bell was sold at auction to Emma Willis, the
daughter of R.M. Harris, who was the governor of the Chickasaws from
1896-1898. After the purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Willis moved the bell to
Kingston, Oklahoma. The bell was placed on a stand in the courtyard of the
First Methodist Church. It remained there until 1937 or 1938 when it was
hung in the belfry of the church. Helen (Willis) Lewis, the only child of
Mr. and Mrs. Willis requested the church return the ball to the Chickasaw
people. In 1974, this was finally accomplished. The bell was placed back
in front of the capitol building for the annual meeting on October 3, 1998
to celebrate the capitol centennial. The Chickasaw people once again - and
from now on - will hear the sounds of the old bell calling them to a
meeting in the Chickasaw Nation
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