Historic Capitol of the Chickasaw Nation. Site Marker: Chikasha Tulli Ola - Chickasaw Capitol Bell. About 1859, the Chickasaw government purchased an iron bell to be hung in the first Chickasaw capitol building. It was used to summon tribal members to special meetings and to signal emergencies in the community. Depending on the type of ring made by the appointed toller, the community would know whether it was a meeting or a death. Chickasaw people within ear shot would stop their daily activities and travel to the capitol to hear vital information that affected their lives. This bell, standing two feet and weighing approximately three hundred pounds, remained there until 1890. At that time it was removed and placed upon a stump of a large Bois D Arc tree near the capitol building. After construction of the new capitol in 1898 the bell remained outside the building suspended from a tripod. On November 16, 1909, the bell was sold at auction to Emma Willis, the daughter of R.M. Harris, who was the governor of the Chickasaws from 1896-1898. After the purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Willis moved the bell to Kingston, Oklahoma. The bell was placed on a stand in the courtyard of the First Methodist Church. It remained there until 1937 or 1938 when it was hung in the belfry of the church. Helen (Willis) Lewis, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Willis requested the church return the ball to the Chickasaw people. In 1974, this was finally accomplished. The bell was placed back in front of the capitol building for the annual meeting on October 3, 1998 to celebrate the capitol centennial. The Chickasaw people once again - and from now on - will hear the sounds of the old bell calling them to a meeting in the Chickasaw Nation the bell is actually to the left concealed by a treee.I just thought it was interesting http://www.civilwaralbum.com/indian/tish1.htm TWO FORMER CHICKASAW CAPITALS, A LOG BUILDING BUILT IN 1855 AND A LARGE STONE BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 1896. THE LOG BUILDING HAS BEEN ENCLOSED WITH A COVER BUILDING AND IT NOW SERVES AS A MUSEUM NEAR THE NEWER BUILDING. THE LOG CAPITOL IS APPROXIMATELY 14x24 FEET AND THE LOGS WERE HAND-HEWN. IT HAS A HIPPED ROOF. THE LARGER STONE CAPITOL IS RICHARDSONIAN ROMANESQUE IN STYLE. IT IS A THREE-STORY SQUARE BUILDING WITH A PROMINENT CUPOLA. THE LOG BUILDING SERVED AS A CAPITOL FROM 1855-1858 AND THE STONE BUILDING SERVED AS THE CAPITOL OF THE CHICKASAW NATION BETWEEN 1896 AND 1907. (A SECOND, BRICK CAPITOL WAS BUILT IN 1858, BUT LATER BURNED). AFTER STATEHOOD, THE STONE CAPITOL WAS PURCHASED BY THE COUNTY AND SERVED AS THE JOHNSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE UNTIL IT WAS PURCHASED BY THE CHICKASAW NATION IN 1989. IN THE MID-1990S, THE CHICKASAW NATION EMBARKED ON A REHABILITATION PROJECT, WITH THE GOAL OF RETURNING THE THIRD CAPITOL TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORY. http://www.ocgi.okstate.edu/shpo/shpopic.asp?id=71000663 thanks for viewing anbd any comments