Jul 30, 2010- 3:44 PM
The 152nd birthday of the late William Joseph Bell, a local businessman and philanthropist, was celebrated by more than 30 city residents at the Bell Park structure named for him and his family — the William Bell Gazebo.
It was the first time the memory of the donor of 110 acres of land along Ramsey Lake to the city in 1926 was celebrated in public, organizers said. The parcel of land became the site of the present Bell Park and Science North.
“We wish to bring public awareness to the Bell legacy and promote the need for restoration work on the Bell Mansion (home of Art Gallery of Sudbury),” Gordon Drysdale, event organizer, said.
Ward 10 Coun. Frances Caldarelli said having the Bell birthday celebration was a good idea.
“We never want to lose our appreciation over what we have here at Bell Park.”
Copies of the original Bell Covenant of 1926, meant to guide future development of the donated lands, were handed out.
Bell was born in Pembroke in 1858. He married Katherine, the daughter of Senator James Skead of Ottawa, in 1886. Bell moved to northern Ontario in 1896 with the Hale and Booth Lumber Company.
In 1901, he became the vice-president and general manager of the Spanish River Lumber company, owned by William Arnold of Albany, N.Y. The two became partners, operating the largest of 36 firms that operated timber, boom and bush operations along the north shore of Lake Huron.
Bell purchased 155 acres of property surrounding Ramsey Lake in 1906, planning to build the mansion on a hill overlooking the lake. It was completed in 1907.
He expanded his business interests into other areas, such as mining in 1907 and retail in 1920. He became CEO of Cochrane-Dunlop Hardware. He was also active in the formation of the Idylwylde Golf Club and was one of the original 14 investors in the Grand Theatre.
As a member of the Sudbury Parks Board, he promoted the creation of city parks. Bell Park and the Bell Grove swimming area are named in his honour.
