The Old Hurricane Bell
At the turn of the 20th century, the American Bell and Foundry Company of Northville, Michigan produced bells for firehouses, churches, farms, courthouses, and schools. By 1907, one of their 30- inch bells, weighing 530 pounds, and at a cost of $35.75 plus freight, was hung from a hay derrick near the bowery on the northeast corner of the town square at State Street and Main Street. It was freighted to town by R.P. Woodbury.
As a convenience to the public, the bell was rung 30 minutes before the start of church, the beginning of school, or when a fire or some other disaster required assistance. When the Social Hall was constructed next to the bowery in 1908, the bell was removed from the bowery and mounted over the front door of the Social Hall.
The bell remained there until the school was built in 1918 at 50 South Main Street. If one looks closely one can see the bell mounted behind the façade. School was held in this building through the spring of 1955 when it was razed, and the new elementary school was finished on this block.
The Red Brick Church (the old South Ward Chapel located at 300 South and 100 West) was dedicated January 18, 1953, and the bell was placed inside the steeple. In 1970, multiple wards were created, and the bell was thereafter only rung on special occasions.
The Hurricane Valley Sons of Utah Pioneers, Hurricane Historical Preservation Commission, and local civic and church leaders have worked together with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to get the bell returned to its original home at Town Square.
On May 21, 2021, it was removed from the Red Brick Church and restored. This Bell Tower is provided as its final home through citizen donations, City Recreation Arts and Parks Tax, and the Sons of Utah Pioneers.
This is Sons of Utah Pioneers historic marker #280 (see other S.U.P. markers here) located in a park at 65 West State Street in Hurricane, Utah.
