Patsy Will Be Heard On High Bell Tower to Play Cline’s Recordings By: Linda McCarty Edition Staff Writer When more than 200 people braved the wet weather 17 years ago to attend the dedication ceremony of a bell tower for Patsy Cline, they expected it to live up to its purpose. Since then, the only sound from the 40-foot-tall structure within sight of Patsy’s grave in Shenandoah Memorial Park on Front Royal Pike has been the occasional chirping of a bird stopping by for a rest. Jim Kniceley stands by a bell tower in Shenandoah Memorial Park that was dedicated to Patsy Cline 17 years ago. Once a new sound system is put in place, the tower will play songs by Patsy at 6:00 p.m. daily. (Photo by Ginger Perry) The problem with the chimeless bell tower is about to be solved, said one of the country music legend’s fans, Winchester resident Jim Kniceley. About three months ago, Jim organized a committee to raise money for a tower sound system. “We’ve collected $1,000,” Jim said. Most of the money has been earmarked for a system that will feature Patsy singing one of her hit songs every day at 6 p.m. “It’s a battery-operated amplifier with a timer that turns on a tape,” said Frederick County resident Don Daugherty, who designed and built the system. The battery will be secured in a brick, podium-like arrangement near a similar structure holding the dedication plaque. The new podium, Jim said, was donated by Ricketts Construction Co. of Winchester. Jim said the bell tower has been dormant because there was no way to bring electricity from a power pole beside Papermill Road, which borders the cemetery on the south. “The battery-operated system will solve that problem,” Jim said. The $25,000 tower, which was built with donations, was dedicated on Sept. 6, 1987, following speeches by dignitaries praising the community’s recognition of the hometown country music star. Patsy was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on Sept. 8, 1932, in Winchester. She was returning from a Kansas City benefit concert in 1963, when she died in a plane crash near Camden, Tenn. Jim was vice president of the tower fund-raising committee. Don Daugherty (from left), Lynda Tyler, and Jim Kniceley stand in front of the Patsy Cline bell tower at Shenandoah Memorial Park. Once a sound system is installed, the tower will play songs by the legendary country singer. (Photo by Ginger Perry) The sound-system committee — which includes Secretary Janet Kniceley and Treasurer Judy Sue Huyett-Kempf — is hoping to collect even more money to pay for the tower’s maintenance. “The tower needs a facelift,” said Stonewall District Supervisor Lynda Tyler, who is a member of the Celebrating Patsy Cline Inc. organization. “It needs painting and probably some of the nuts and bolts need to be replaced.” Lynda said the sound system committee also is seeking the donation of a crane to lift someone up to mount the speaker. “When this is done, I think it’s going to be wonderful that there is finally going to be Patsy singing at a specific time a day for fans who come out here,” Lynda said. “It will add to the significance of coming to her grave.” The sound system will be dedicated at 1 p.m. on Sept. 5, as a part of the annual Patsy Cline Weekend celebration. “Generally fans come for special events on Friday and Saturday during the Labor Day weekend and leave on Sunday,” Lynda said, “but this year they will have something to do on Sunday.” Contributions of a crane or for the maintenance fund can be made by calling Jim at (540) 662-8859.

Originally Published In The Winchester Star on July 14, 2004







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