SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
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Two mission bells--the largest weighing about 1,800 pounds--are en route to Holland to be recast.
The bells, originally made in 1796, were cracked and in danger of splitting further, mission spokeswoman Sandy Wheeler said.
In Holland, molds imprinted with the bells’ shapes and designs will be made, and the original bells will be melted down and recast using the molds.
Surrogate aluminum bells are taking the original bells’ spaces until they are returned, Wheeler said.
“We hope they will be back in time for Swallows’ Day,” she said.
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