The Carriage Stone and the Church Bell

                 This is another one of my Aunt's writings from the
      Warren Observer that my Aunt used to contribute to....
      
            There were some people from the city visiting our
      church one Sunday in the Spring of 2001. Several women
      had gathered near the front of the Church, near the
      'Carriage Stone.' Not knowing what it was there for,
      they thought it should be removed, as it seemed to block 
      the path into the Church. that gave me a chance to
      explain that when the church was built in 1818, people
      came to church in horse drawn carriages, which were 
      driven up close to that big stone. so all the passengers 
      had to do was step down onto it, walk down two steps,
      and go into the church. The horses were then driven to
      the 'Horse Sheds' where they were tied and sometimes 
      fed, depending on the owner. There was a similar rock
      on the North side of the church, and those that came on 
      horseback also found the rock helpful in dismounting.
            Usually the church bell was tolled to let townspeople 
      know that there was a fire, a funeral, or some other event. 
      I remember hearing about the 'mystery' tolling.....
            At 1:00 A. M. the night before a Fourth of July, the
      church bell began tolling and tolling. Residents thought
      there must be a tremendous fire somewhere. The sexton
      who lived near the church quickly pulled his trousers on,
      grabbed a shirt and rushed to the church to find out what
      was the trouble. When he got there, the bell stopped 
      tolling and there was no one around. The culprits had
      mysteriously disappeared.
            Although it was never proven who did it, I believe
      people in town had their suspicions. But as it was seen as 
      Forth of July prank, they just smiled and said, 'Boys will be
      boys.' [Many years later I got the full story from my 
      brothers.]

                                     Connie Strong Verbouwens

             As some of you know, I have posted many of my Aunts 
       stories on my blog, one of which is the full story of that 
       'Mystery' tolling at the church. I will give you a hint that 
       one of her brothers was of course my father......