On Monday, Dec. 1, Hulley Tower’s new carillon bells will arrive, and installation will begin with the largest bells first. All 52 bells should be installed in the top of the tower by end of day Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Bleachers will be set up outside the construction fencing for viewing on Dec. 1-2. In addition, a select number of small bells will be available for up-close viewing at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, before the Yule Log Celebration at 5:30 p.m.

The 52-bell carillon will replace the 11 “Eloise chimes” that once signaled the start and end of the day and rang out during DeLand’s many parades.

Built in 1934, the 116-foot Hulley Tower had to be taken down to its base in 2005 after a series of devastating hurricanes. In 2023, an alumni-led, grassroots campaign began to fund the $6.7 million needed to historically reconstruct the belltower. Funding included a $500,000 historic preservation grant from the State of Florida.

An avalanche that occurred in 1979 in Innsbruck, Austria, is the impetus for the Hulley Tower reconstruction, as friends of three classmates killed during a European business seminar — Scotty Fenlon (Sigma Nu), Dennis Long (Delta Sigma Phi) and Katy Resnik (Pi Beta Phi) — wanted to create a memorial on the Stetson campus. That January “mini-mester” program is the early predecessor of today’s Summer Innsbruck Program.

The memorial also serves to remember any student who died during their time at Stetson. The landscaping around the tower will be complete by February and feature the Brockway Plaza and Mimi’s Firepit. In addition, it will serve as a place for the campus, DeLand community members and others to gather for music concerts and other activities.

Hulley Tower’s dedication is scheduled for Feb. 7, 2026.

Yule Log Celebration, Meet the Bells and Winter Wonderland, Dec. 2

On Tuesday, Dec. 2, one of Stetson’s most cherished traditions — the 77th annual Yule Log Ceremony — will take place at 5:30 p.m. in front of the CUB for. This event honors the spirit of the season and the memories of Hatters who have passed, symbolizing hope, renewal and unity.

Also: Arrive early at 5:15 p.m. for Meet the Bells, a special opportunity to view a selection of the new Hulley Tower carillon bells up close before they’re installed.

After the ceremony, enjoy hot cocoa and cider at Winter Wonderland in Palm Court. Games, activities, and fun for all ages! Sponsored by Hatter Productions and the Student Development & Campus Vibrancy team. Who knows … you might even see SNOW!