Carillon Park owes its existence to the generosity of two
public-spirited Dayton citizens, Colonel and Mrs. Edward A. Deeds. It is
an expression of the interests of two people expanded for the pleasure
and advancement of the entire community.
The Park had its inception with the Carillon, the gift of Mrs. Deeds.
Devoted to music from her girlhood, and herself an accomplished
musician, she had the inspiration for it while listening to the chimes
in one of the famous old belfries of Bruges. As the melodious notes fell
on her ears she said to herself, “In no other way can simple and
inspiring music be spread among the entire populace.” In that hour was
born the idea of the Deeds Carillon which rears its majestic height in
the midst of Carillon Park.
The idea of combining a group of bells to form a carillon dates back to
the Middle Ages. Since bells provided the world’s oldest and most simple
form of musical expression there came the evolution from a call to
prayer to a musical program. Some of Europe’s most famed and beautiful
towers have carillons. The carillon was developed to a greater and more
artistic extent in Belgium than in any other continental country, not
only in Bruges but also in Antwerp, Ghent, and Mechlin. Around the
carillon bells has been woven a tradition of beauty and inspirational
service.
[Illustration: Mrs. Edward A. Deeds and Colonel Deeds at the first
regularly scheduled carillon program August 23, 1942.]
Before embarking on her enterprise Mrs. Deeds viewed many carillons at
home and abroad and made a careful study of bells. The initial
requirement was to find a site which would provide the best ultimate
results from carillon music without echo and the jumbling of tone. Early
in her planning Mrs. Deeds considered Deeds Park at the junction of the
Miami River and Mad River. This park—a gift of Colonel Deeds to the city
of Dayton—would have made an appropriate setting. The idea was
reluctantly abandoned because of interfering noises and sound deflection
which would occur in the area. Finally Mrs. Deeds decided upon a site in
the triangular area located between Patterson Boulevard and Carillon
Boulevard almost adjacent to Old River, The National Cash Register
Company recreational park.
[Illustration: The beautiful bronze door at the Carillon is more
than an entranceway. In the cherished words of Longfellow’s
“Christmas Bells” it expresses the spirit in which the Carillon was
conceived and dedicated to the service of the people ... “With Peace
on Earth, good will to men.”]
IT WAS AS IF AN EARTHQUAKE RENT
THE HEARTHSTONES OF A CONTINENT
AND MADE FORLORN
THE HOUSEHOLDS BORN
OF PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TO MEN
AND IN DESPAIR I BOWED MY HEAD
THERE IS NO PEACE ON EARTH I SAID
FOR HATE IS STRONG
AND MOCKS THE SONG
OF PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TO MEN
THEN PEALED THE BELLS MORE LOUD AND DEEP
GOD IS NOT DEAD NOR DOES HE SLEEP
THE WRONG SHALL FAIL
THE RIGHT PREVAIL
WITH PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TO MEN