The Bells are Calling You!
The Bells Are Calling You!
Germantown, Wisconsin about 20 minutes north of Milwaukee off of Hwy 41/45 is easily accessible. A perfect daytrip, the area is home to Dheinsville Settlement, The Bast Bell Museum , the Christ Church of Local History and nearby Holy Hill, a National Shrine.
Sila Lydia Bast was the granddaughter of Jacob Bast of the Bast family that arrived from the Hunsruker region of Germany in 1848. Her grandfather owned a farm just north of the current Bast Bell Museum, which now houses 5,000 of Sila’s bells. A cowbell, now rusted with years of history, was the first bell of her collection and was found on her grandfathers farm.
Sila passed away in 1997 at the age of 92.
Her devoted niece Dr Ernella Hunziker took great pains to find a final resting place where Sila’s bells would be on display and appreciated.
In 2000, after 18 months of fundraising and refurbishing, the Wolf/Shuster barn at N128 W18780 Holy Hill Road opened its doors June 30.
Sila’s Bells live on in Dheinsville Settlement, just steps away from her grandfathers farm and where her first bell was found in his pasture. The Germantown Historical Society is proud of one of it’s own and her dedication to her collection and the generous spirit that surrounds its donation and exhibition.
Contact
Jane Riley Best
Museum Director and Public Relations Specialist
262-628-3170
GHSMuseumDirector@gmail.com,
