The Carillon Society: Leaving a Legacy
The Carillon Society was established to honor and recognize donors who, in the spirit of Alfred I. and Jessie Ball duPont, have ensured a bright future for children’s health through a bequest or other planned gift. Like the Carillon, your gift will resonate through the years, helping to insure that funds will be available to bring the very best health services to the children who need them most.
The Carillon Tower was the final project undertaken by Mr. duPont on the grounds of Nemours, his estate and gardens in Wilmington, Delaware. Long the highest point in Delaware, the 210-foot Carillon Tower is a Wilmington landmark. It is the final resting place of Alfred I. duPont, Jessie Ball duPont, and her brother, Edward Ball. Constructed of pink and white marble, with a Brandywine blue rock terrace and steps, the Carillon has 31 cast bronze bells controlled by an electric keyboard. The carillon intones the Westminster chimes on the quarter hour, and plays music on the hour.
The bronze tablet at the entrance to the tower reads: “This musical tower was erected as a token of love and affection to the memory of our parents, Eleuthère Irénée duPont and Charlotte Shephard Henderson, as well to lovers of music, he believing that great happiness will accrue to all by virtue of its construction.”
Massena & duPont, Architects 1935.
To learn more about how to remember Nemours in your will, contact Amy Bielicki, Major Gifts Coordinator, at 302-651-4298or toll free at 888-494-5251.
Through his will, Dr. Harley established a charitable trust to endow the Robison D. Harley, MD Chair in Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. The trust also provides ongoing funding for research in molecular genetics. Dr. Harley headed the Department of Ophthalmology at Temple University and was the editor of Harleys Pediatric Ophthalmology, the premier textbook in the field.
