Conception

Joy's initial exposure to the art of bell music occurred during his college years. He first discovered the beauty of these instruments while attending Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

This early appreciation evolved into a fascination when Joy later traveled through Northern Europe. While abroad, he was captivated by the historic carillons that have defined the region's musical landscape since the 1400s.

Inspired by these European towers, he developed a plan to bring a similar musical experience to his hometown and decided that Centralia should have its own world-class carillon.

Joy viewed the carillon as not only a musicial instrument, but as a lasting civic monument. He conceptualized a towering structure that would permanently enrich the local community.

His vision for the carillon also included a personal tribute to his own family's history. Joy conceived the idea of dedicating the instrument's largest bell, the bourdon, to both his grandfather and his son by naming it "Great Tom".

This foundational idea ultimately pushed Joy to take tangible action. His lifelong dream became the direct catalyst for a community-wide fundraising effort, setting the stage for the creation of one of the largest carillons in the world.