MOUNT VERNON — A total of $5,175 was raised through the generous support of numerous community members Saturday evening at the Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival.
“This money all goes back to the festival,” said festival director Pat Crow at the start of the festival’s annual bell auction, which was delayed slightly due to afternoon showers.
“This is your opportunity to take home a phenomenal bell,” said Crow as he described the 12 bells up for auction. The bells are cast each year, numbered one through 12, with this year’s bells being created by Tim Yoder. A replica of the original bell cast in 2002 as part of the Ohio bicentennial celebration, the 2010 bells feature artwork of the Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival on one side and Dan Emmett’s birthplace home on the other.
As auctioneer Jerry Scott began the bell auction, he introduced hawkers John Ruckman, John Ruckman Jr. and Thom Collier as part of the auction process. Ruckman Jr. also served as auctioneer for a few of the bells.
As the auction started and bidders were looking for their chance to purchase one of these cherished bells, Sandy Crow stood up front, displaying and periodically ringing the bells for the crowd, with the first bell being purchased by Dale Yoder.
