There was a time when almost all country homes in Kentucky had a “Dinner Bell”.

The “Dinner Bell”- (a hollow metallic flared device with a clapper to make a ringing sound when struck).

They came in many different sizes, ranging from about 12–24 inches across and were about 10–18 inches high.
The bell was fixed on a cradle with a rope attached to the bell crank, and mounted on a post.
When the rope was pull down the clapper hit the side of the bell and when the rope was released it hit the other side as to make a ringing sound; the bell was rang a number of times to send a message.

The “Dinner Bell” was usually located some where near the back porch or in the backyard.
The bell was rung to let the workers in the fields know it was time to come-and-get-it.

These bells are sold in many antiques and flee markets for yard, garden or landscape direction.
They like many other devices of the past mark a time when life was quite different than today.

In those early days family life was much closer related than today, one special time was the mealtime.
All members of the family would be there for that time of togetherness, each one had a place at the table,
nobody begin to eat until all were there in their place.
If a family member was absence their plate was set but the plate was turned over as to remember them in their time of absence from the family.

Bells were used to send other messages as well.

Many of the churches in the community had large bells in the steeple tower or attic of the churches.
There would be a large rope through the ceiling in the entry of the church building for to ring the bell.
The care takes would ring the bell at a given time as to remind the people of the church services.

Note:
These bells are a friendly reminder of life when there was no electricity, of which to do the work of the day.

_Carlis B. Wilson