Old bells returning to VUU: Gift from Belgium will restore bell tower that's been silent for 60 years.

Byline: Gary Robertson

Jan. 12--After more than 60 years of silence, a historic 161-foot bell tower on the campus of Virginia Union University will ring again.

The Belgian government is donating a tuned set of four bells for installation in the tower of the university's Belgian Friendship Building, which was given to Virginia Union and reassembled in Richmond in the years after the 1939 World's Fair. Dianne Watkins of Richmond, who organized an effort in 2004 to replace the tower's bells, was joyful yesterday in relating word of Belgium's gift. "A majestic tower that has been silent will now have a voice in the community," said Watkins, who retired last …