Shelton Smith writes book about courthouse bell, history
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 29, 2016 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/PHYLLIS MOORE
Shelton Smith is shown with with a framed copy of the cover of the book "Wayne the Bell," a book his family published and presented to him as a Father's Day gift. It is based on his recollections of the history of the courthouse bell during his time as curator when he was Wayne County building and grounds superintendent.
Shelton Smith, former building and grounds superintendent for Wayne County, from 1969-1994, was also curator of the bell that now occupies a special place inside the entrance to the courthouse.
Smith could regale you with all sorts of tales about area landmarks he formerly oversaw, but has always had an interest in bells, he says.
"I'm not a writer and I'm not a historian, but I've always loved history," he said.
He had shared so many stories of his years working at the courthouse, that his family encouraged him to record them.
One, chronicling the history of the courthouse bell that has been Wayne County property for 165 years, has made its way into a book.
"Wayne the Bell" is written in the voice of the bell -- from being born in 1851 and traveling by train to Goldsboro later that year. The illustrated paperback is also packed with history about Goldsboro and Wayne County, as well as several moves the bell made throughout each construction change at the courthouse.
Well before Smith's time, before the annex and jail were part of the premises, the bell was moved to the old Health Department building, around 1913, when a new courthouse was built, Smith said.
"They built the wood tower behind that, and then whenever the annex was built in 1954, Mr. Bell, he had to go somewhere," he recalled. "They took him out and built the annex, mounted it on top of the annex and then at the time, there was a rope tied to it, tied through the window of the sheriff's office and they'd ring the bell, when court started and adjourned and probably any other special events."
In the days before air conditioning, he said, when court would recess, lawyers and clients would gather beneath the oak trees on the courthouse lawn, discussing cases until the bell signaled court resumed.
Around 1990, when the annex was being torn down, and the bell would again be homeless, Smith intervened.
"Just as soon as T.A. Loving, the contractor, mobilized, I went up and asked the foreman, 'I have the bell up on the top of this building and I sure would love to have it in the back of this truck,'" he said. "I backed it right up to the door and I said, 'And I'd love to have it now.'
"He called his man over and he loaded it in my truck. I took it to the warehouse (nearby) and I put the bell in the warehouse. It stayed there near about four years."
Smith engaged the help of people doing community service, providing them the supplies to polish and maintain the bell's luster.
"Then when the time was appropriate, they moved it but before we moved it, we had to have somewhere to put it," Smith said.
That's when he made his most strategic move yet.
"If you visualize standing in the atrium, the doors that go to the basement in the courthouse," he explained, "there won't no building there. They'd already torn it down.
"I told the architect, (putting my finger on the blueprint), somewhere about here, I want a brick kiosk and on the other side I want one. (He said), 'Shelton, what in the world are you going to do with them?' I said, I'm going to mount a bell on top of the one on the left. You can put a clock in the other one."
That was 1994.
A few weeks later, Smith retired.
"He's such a character. He's such a storyteller," son-in-law Michael Wegman said.
Wegman took the lead in publishing the colorfully illustrated book, which the family presented as a Father's Day gift this past June.
"They gave him a book and a present of 50 books that he could give to family and then he had it put on the internet for people to order," said Smith's wife, Charlotte.
"I was just surprised. I couldn't hardly believe it," Smith, 86, said of the gesture.
Copies of the book have already been presented to Wayne County Public Library, where he is scheduled to read it on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m., and to the Wayne County Museum. He has also expressed interest in placing a copy at all elementary schools in the county, both public and Christian schools, he said.
One reason he wrote the book, he said, is for future generations who may know little about the history of Goldsboro and Wayne County.
"I think a child ought to take a course of study in county and city history where they live," he said. "I'm hoping somewhere down the line it will instill enough with school officials to teach Wayne County history in Goldsboro.
"I want the children to learn something about Wayne County."
Recently he paid a visit to the county commissioners, presenting them with a copy of the book along with express instructions that it remain the county's property.
"And then I said one more thing I wanted," he said. "Just suppose in 1990 when I went up there to get that bell off, I had found a little capsule attached to it to give me some of the history, how thrilled I'd be."
He requested permission to attach a copy of "Wayne the Bell" inside the courthouse bell, he said, for future reference.
"You can bet your life that this building in 50 years from now will be torn down," he told the board. "Just imagine, one of your great-great-grandsons may be the one that opens it up and finds it. Can you imagine how tickled they'd be?
"So they gave me permission and the guy that's in charge of the buildings and grounds, it's got another name now, he's invited me to spend the whole day with him and go around and tell him stories, things that I did."
For more information on the book, or to purchase a copy, visit www.lulu.com and search for "Wayne the Bell."