ABA 2024 Convention Highlights
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June 23 – 28, 2024
A few Pictures from our Pittsburgh Convention.
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American Bell Association Banner
Registration Table
Sunday Meet and Greet
Friends getting into the mood of Mars
First Timers – all the way from Australia
President Jane Opening the 78th Annual Convention
Parade of Banners
Parade of Banners
A visit from a young George Washington
Exhibit Room
Exhibit Room
Raffle and Silent Auction
BEHOLD Painted Russian Bells
BEHOLD – Things that go Hoot in the night – Owl Bells
BEHOLD Sights and Sounds of Western Pennsylvania
BEHOLD Historical Ukrainian Bells
BEHOLD The Bells Book – Journeys Around the World
BEHOLD Who is Joel? Bells from Jan/Feb 2024 Bell Tower
BEHOLD Lynn Chase Wildlife Bells
Programs Audience
First Timer brought this bell looking for information on it
Checking out the Auction Tables
The Auction
Our favorite auctioneer Bruce
Banquet
President Jane presides
The Programs
We learned a lot from the diverse selection of programs presented this year.
The Girls Room
Bronze bell of an innkeeper holding keys and accounts of the rooms
Historical Ukraine Bells
The White Rabbit from the Fairy Tale ‘Alice in Wonderland’
Painted Russian Wooden Bells
Three bells with handpainted winter landscape scenes
The Bells Book – Journeys around the world
Byodo-in Temple Bell casted over 1000 years ago
Fulton Bells
Bell cast by the Fulton Company in 1848
Traveling the Glass Road
3 glass objects made near Pittsburgh in the 19th century
Sights and Sounds of Old Western Pennsylvania
Conestoga Wagon Bells
Sometimes the Companion Piece Comes First
The pirate nutcracker with his keys surrounded by his pirate ship bells
Things that go Hoot in the Night
Bronze Owl Bell. Lost wax method by Emil Huddy
Lynn Chase Wildlife Bells
Tiger Raj Bell with an elephant handle
2024 – 2025 Executive Board
President Bonnie Tippery
First Vice President: Bonnie Tippery Second Vice President: Ailene Pearce Secretary: Carol Jurin Treasurer: Arlene Foreman Immediate Past President: Jane Boldenow Member at Large: Shirley Russell Past Presidents Representative: Laura Murgia Parliamentarian Cathy Darnell Legal Advisor: Carol Mannchen
PROGRAMS
The Girls Club, No Boys Allowed
Historical Ukraine Bells
Painted Russian Wooden Bells
Journeys Around the World: The Bells Book
Fulton Bells
Traveling the Glass Road
Things that go Hoot in the Night
Lynn Chase Wildlife Bells
Sights & Sounds of Old Weestern Pennsylvania
Sometimes the Companion Piece Comes First
BEHOLD ROOM DISPLAYS
Who is Joel?
Things that go Hoot in the Night
Painted Russian Wooden Bells
Sights & Sounds of Old Western Pennsylvania
The Bells Book
Lynn Chase Wildlife Bells
Fulton Bells
Historical Ukraine Bells
2024 Convention Bell
Paired tuned bells joined by a walnut yoke
Bronze by Malmark Bells, Inc.
The Tours
Many took the tours sponsored by the American Bell Association. We took an excellent bus tour of Pittsburgh learning much about its history and revitalization. We also saw the many bridges, narrow streets and tight turns. We rode the Duquesne Incline which was a steep look down. Lunch was at the Grand Concourse before we went on to the Heinz History Center. On the second day we boarded the Gateway Clipper Three Rives Sightseeing Cruise and learned even more about the city. After a quick view of the Mars Spaceship we had lunch at the Springfield Grille.
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On the bus and ready to go
The view from Mount Washington (it used to be called Coal Hill)
Entering the upper station of the Duquesne incline on Grandview Avenue
Going down !!! The incline has been in operation since 1877
Lunch at the Grand Concourse. It’s in the beautifully preserved Pittsburgh & Erie Railroad Station constructed in 1901.
The Heinz History Center. This 150+ year old wagon was once drawn by 8 horses. It was called The Heinz Hitch.
Heinz History Center glass exhibition
Also in the Heinz Center is the old city bell made by the Fulton Bell Foundry in 1866. At one time on each April 10th the bell tolled 1-8-4-5 to commemorate Pittsburgh’s ‘Great Fire’
On day 2 of our tours, a family of geese excorted our bus to the riverboat (slowly)
Boarding the Gateway Clipper Cruise
Seeing Pittsburgh from the river
The Point of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Pittsburgh where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join to form the Ohio River.
Lunch at the Springfield Grille
Sheila our bus driver. We have named her ‘The Master of the Tight Turns’. If you’ve been to Pittsburgh, you know why!