Robert Cowie has been collecting large bells for four years.  He began with iron bells to be placed in his bell tower in front of the family chapel, St. Ann of the Bells, at the Cowie Winery in Paris, Arkansas.  The bells have been sand blasted and powder coated to a gold/bronze color.  The bells are named for the patron saints of the Cowie children as well as other saints and holy people.  There are presently 12 bells in the tower.  Eventually, it will be enlarged to accommodate 26 bells.

Also in the collection are four bells inside the chapel.  The first is from Spain, which is inscribed, ‘Saint Francis in the year of our Lord 1727′.

The second is from Germany which is inscribed to say, ‘Joseph Dollar made me in a monastery near Munich in 1788′.

The third bell is from Scotland, saying, ‘ I am the gift of the Duke of Argon in 1780′.

The fourth bell was cast in France at the Bolee foundry in 1866 for the cathedral of Buffalo, New York.

Robert’s oldest of his collection came from a collection in Nebraska .  It was cast in 1679 and says, ‘John the Greek made me in 1679′.  It will soon be placed upside down in the chapel and used as a holy water fount.

Recently added to the collection is the largest bell (pictured here) in Arkansas:

A 61” bell from St. Joseph’s in Chicago and cast in St. Louis in 1903.  It is presently in front of the Cowie home.

Additional bells including a rare set of tube bells are stored in the warehouse at the present time.

It is Robert’s goal to create a bell museum on the South side of Highway 22 across from the winery.

Visitors can currently view many of the historical bells already on display at the Winery located at 101 N Carvon City Road,  Paris, AR. Call  479. 963. 3990 for business hours or visit http://www.cowiewinecellars.com