The bell that graced the George Prince Ferry as it made its fateful, unfinished voyage between Destrehan and Luling on Oct. 20, 1976 has found a home at the East Regional Library, 160 W. Campus Drive.

On indefinite loan from the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans, the 1,000-pound bell may be viewed during normal library hours: Mondays through Thursdays 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

An early-morning collision between the George Prince and a tanker mid-river claimed the lives of 77 residents of St. Charles and surrounding parishes, many of them headed to work. The event still stands as the worst ferry accident in U.S. history.

Employees of the St. Charles Parish Department of Government Buildings hand-constructed the bell’s new display stand over a two-week period. Director Bruce Pitre, along with Dwayne Tregre, Rowdy Bourgeois, Reginald Lumar, Robert Roy, Dalton Tregre and Orin Taylor completed the project during down time.

The bell is the second piece of memorabilia related to the ferry disaster to make its debut in St. Charles Parish within the last two years. Parish, state and archdiocesan officials dedicated a monument to the victims and survivors of the tragic wreck just shy of the event’s 33rd anniversary on Oct. 17, 2009, during a solemn ceremony at the East Bank Bridge Park.

St. Charles Parish District V Councilman Larry Cochran was a main catalyst in both the monument and bell projects.

“I’m glad to see the George Prince bell finally come home,” he said. “I know it will mean a lot to friends and family members of those lost to have this very sentimental piece of history on display locally. We will never forget.”

The exhibit also features photographs by Fred Hurt, a recovery diver during the incident. The parish is seeking additional related pictures or clippings from the public to display. If you would like to submit items, please call (985) 783-5183 or e-mail publicinfo@stcharlesgov.net. All items will be scanned / copied and immediately returned.

The mission of St. Charles Parish government is to provide high quality, efficient services to sustain and enhance the quality of life for all residents of St. Charles Parish.