Mysterious bell returns to Nashotah

By Katherine Beck

kbeck@conleynet.com

NASHOTAH — The mysterious Nashotah brass bell has been brought back to the village in Lake Country, where it likely originated from, although village officials are no closer to discovering its origin story than they were last summer.

Up until a few weeks ago, the bell was in the possession of David Schultz of Frederick, Maryland, who had worked as the operations manager for a recycling plant, collecting small scale bells that crossed his path.

He said buyers would often alert him if something different came across the scale at the recycling plant that caught their eye. One day in the 1970s, they noticed a large brass bell, approximately 12 inches in diameter at the base with mounting brackets and the name Nashotah etched into the side of the bell. The relic was 75 pounds.

See BELL, PAGE 5A

David Schultz of Frederick, Maryland, left, and Nashotah Village President Clint Johnson stand next to the bell Schultz recovered decades ago with the word “Nashotah” on it.

Photos courtesy of Clint Johnson

The approximately 75-pound brass bell with the name Nashotah on it is on display in Nashotah Village Hall.

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The brass bell became part of the collection of trinkets and treasures occupying space in his office.

“The walls were covered. When I left there to go to another job, everything went with me. Most of it was put in storage. I have a big shed in the back and stockpiled it. At times my wife would go through and take things out,” he said.

The large bell was pushed to the back and forgotten about over time. Once Schultz retired, he decided to clean out the shed and get rid of anything his kids didn’t want. Once he spruced the bell up a bit, he noticed the etching on one side of the bell spelled the word Nashotah.

Schultz did some online sleuthing and came across the Village of Nashotah in Wisconsin and contacted the village.

Cynthia Pfeifer, administrative director/clerk/treasurer for Nashotah, dug into local history but had no luck discovering its origin. Anyone who recognized the bell was asked to contact Pfeifer, but while people had ideas of where it may be from, nothing was determined.

During the week between Christmas and New Year’s, Nashotah Village President Clint Johnson traveled to Schultz’s home to bring the bell back to the Midwest. He used his own time and paid for the trip with his own money and Schultz gave the bell to the village at no cost.

“I wanted to make sure this bell got here,” Johnson said.

So, Johnson and his fiancée, Lisa Curnow, made the 18-hour trip east.

Seeing the bell in person was amazing.

Johnson said its condition was “immaculate” and that it was not cracked and was very clean.

After a visit with Schultz and the giving of some gifts, including hats for the Maryland resident’s collection, Johnson and Curnow brought the bell back to Nashotah.

Last week, it was put on display inside Village Hall, N44-W32950 Watertown Plank Road.

After it being hidden away for so long, Johnson wants “people to be able to see it very easily.” And perhaps even hear its sound, which is so strong that it resonates for a couple of minutes.

Ultimately, Johnson is thankful the bell was preserved.

“He literally saved it from the jaws of a scrap yard,” Johnson said of Schultz. “He knew it would mean something to someone.”

A large brass bell with the word “Nashotah” on it has been put on display in Nashotah’s Village Hall.

Photo courtesy of Clint Johnson