A familiar sound will soon return to Lehighton now that the bell and steeple at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church have been installed.

Campbellsville Industries Inc., of Campbellsville, Kentucky, have secured the 37-foot steeple containing the 2,500-pound bell above the 40-foot roof.

It took workers well into the evening hours Thursday to wrap up the installation. Throughout the day, many bystanders watched the progress from afar.

The steeple and bell were removed from the church at Third and Iron Streets on July 22 by technicians from the company for repairs and restoration.

They were then put on a trailer that was driven to Kentucky, where they were refurbished.

Al Sellers, co-chairman of the property committee, said the congregation is thankful.

“We’re very pleased,” Sellers said. “We had good weather, a good crew.”

Sellers explained why the work was necessary.

“The steeple rusted, and we had a leak in the church through the roof,” he said. “The steeple was rusting out.”

Sellers said the project cost $105,000 for a new roof and a new steel steeple, all of which was paid for by the congregation from funds in reserve, along with donations.

“We were able to pay for it without servicing any debt,” he said. “We were happy with that.”

Sellers said the bell dates back to 1910, and the steeple is from 1972. They were built after the original church building was heavily damaged by lightning and a resulting fire.

An EF3 tornado touched down in Campbellsville on Dec. 11 and an EF1 2 miles north on Jan. 1. Wind speeds were 140 mph and 105 to 110, respectively, according to the National Weather Service in Louisville.

Homes were destroyed and at least one person died.

There was no damage to the company building, steeple or bell.

However, a tornado destroyed a home of one of the workers, and took the roof off another.

Two experienced company workers died unexpectedly.

Sellers said the bell will ring on Sunday, and encouraged those who would like to see and hear it should be there for 9:30 a.m.