Looking at the ornate bell by the Selby Gardens’ koi pond, you’d think it would have a fascinating back story. However, it wasn’t until a woman visiting from the University of Michigan and read its inscription did we know what that story was. To her great surprise, she discovered it came from her home town back in Japan. She sent photos back to her family, and by sheer coincidence, her father knew the son of an 80-year-old monk at the Buddhist temple where the bell originally came from. Through their gracious efforts, the full story of the 117-year-old bell and it’s narrow escape from getting melted down during World War II, as well as how it got to Selby Gardens, can now be told. Originally rung to mark the beginning of temple ceremonies, the bell can now be rung when visiting the koi pond.
Selby Gardens is featured weekly on ABC7 News at Noon. Tune in Thursdays to see more informative segments like this one.