Troop 34 Eagle Scout Project Restores Downtown Bell Tower

   Johnny Ney (age 14) of Boy Scout Troop 34 helped to repair and restore the eight-story bell tower at Downton Memphis' St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at 277 South 4th. The restoration was Ney's "Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project," a community service project that Scouts complete on their way to the Eagle Scout badge -- Scouting's highest youth recognition.

   St. Patrick’s held a bake sale to help cover the cost of supplies.

   Before the Troop began restoring the bell, pigeon poop and dead pigeons had to first be cleared out and rickety ladders reinforced. Then, Johnny Ney, with scouts and adults from Grace-St. Luke’s Troop 34, worked to install and repair the screens at multiple levels to pigeon-proof the tower.

   The bell was oiled and the ability to ring this very large bell has been restored! The bell had not been rung for over 20 years and now the parishioners will once again enjoy bell ringing on Sunday mornings. 

   Click here to learn more about Scouting and Grace-St. Luke's Troop 34.