A sea of hometown folks assembled in the lobby of the Acadia Savings and Loan Association for its dedication exercises on July 15, 1969. On that day the Association had assets of some $13 million. Today, just eight years later, that figure has more than tripled to over $40 million. Look at this picture and see

how many local citizens you can recognize. That day, incidentally, some 6,250 persons came into the building and participated in the celebration. That is still the Acadia Parish record for opening day celebrations.

Carillon Music Comes To Crowley

By Way Of Acadia Savings And Loan

Since the medieval days, the music of carillons (pronounced carrylons) has been a familiar sound in cities all over Europe. Big bells were among the early immigrants to the New World where for centuries they have summoned the faithful to worship.

The modern carillon installed in the Acadia Savings and Loan building bears little resemblance to its ancient ancestors, but the final tone effect is much the same as that of the traditional   cast   bronze

carillons.

During the past eight years it has rung, people from the area around the Acadia Savings building have grown accustomed to its melodic sounds and tones.

One man is largely responsible for the new carillon and for the new promotional efforts bringing bells to the attention of financial and other institutions. He is George Schulmerich of Sellersville, Pennsylvania, founder and head of the world's largest manufacturer of

carillons, such as the one installed in the Acadia Savings. So successful have been the carillons, that they have won world wide attention and acclaim. People all over the globe have thrilled to their sound and with over 8,000 installations to their credit, Schulmerich has the unequalled reputation of excellence and experience that the Board of Directors of the Acadia Savings felt was essential to the successful selection of a carillon manufacturer.

Some of the world's most famous people and institutions have found the Schulmerich Carillon an outstanding prize. Among some of them are the VETS who presented one that plays in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Others include college campuses, St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and the residence of Cardinal Richard Cushing in Boston, Massachusetts.

The citizens of San Pablo, California, are so proud of their

muncipal carillon that the symbol of the bell appears on all major road signs welcoming visitors to "The City of the Bells." One was installed in the Vatic al Pa villi on at the Brussells World Fair and beloved Pope John XXIII thought so highly of the Schulmerich Carillon that he presented one to his old Cathedral of St. Donato in Venice, Italy.

The world's largest carillon was built by Schulmerich for the Coca Cola Bottling Company for their exhibit at the New York World Fair. After the fair, the carillon was moved to the Carolinas where it is used by the world's great concert players.

The carillon installed in the Acadia Savings' building strikes every hour with the same tone of Westminster in London, England. It plays varying tones every quarter hour and at 10:00 a.m., high noon and 5:00 p.m. It plays a short 6 or 7 minute concert of standard favorites. During the Christmas season it plays carols. Timing on the carillon will keep it silenced from 7:00 p.m. until the next morning at 8:00a.m., tomake certain it will not disturb the sleep of Crowley residents it is designed to entertain.

Highest Assets In History

Statement of Condition of the Acadia Savings and Loan Association just released by its Board of Directors indicates that the institution has reached its highest total assets in its twenty year history, totaling over 40 million dollars.

"We are especially proud to announce the highest total assets, and the largest amount of savings and greatest volume of home loans in the history of the Acadia Savings," said Judge Edmund M. Reggie, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association.

The statement of condition indicates that the

Acadia Savings' assets grew more than three and a half million dollars in just the past six months and over 35 million dollars in loans and over 37 million dollars in savings accounts.

"We're proud of our Federal Insurance Reserve figure of over $1,304.786, plus Undivided Profits of $517,312, for a total capital account of $1,822,098," Judge Reggie added.

Acadia Savings and Loan Association grew by more than 6 million dollars from July 1, 1976 to July 1, 1977. Assets in 1976 were $34,436,612 and jumped to $40,709,633 only one year later.