N.C. State returns historic bell to Raleigh fire department

RALEIGH, N.C. — During the 1940s, a bell atop Withers Hall was used to catch the attention of N.C. State students.

Over time, It fell into disuse, but remained on top of the building until a grad student researched its provenance and realized the 1,000-pound bell first belonged to the Raleigh Fire Department.

During the early part of the 20th century, the bell was used to alert volunteer firefighters. The number of rings would signal which ward of the city the fire was in. It was last used by the fire department to toll the death of firefighter in 1930.

No one is sure how it came to be use at N.C. State, but on Wednesday the university returned it to it rightful owners.

It is the oldest surviving artifact of the Raleigh fire department, cast in bronze in 1870. Fire Chief John McGrath called the handover a small but significant moment in Raleigh firefighter history.

After cleaning and restoration, the bell may be placed in the $226 million public safety building on which construction is to begin next year.

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WRAL, who is the grad student? This story is very bare bones and lacks much detail. The N&O did a story on it, very well written I might add. The title does make it look like it was stolen, when it in fact was given to NC State http://www.newsobserver.com/print/wednesday/city_state/story/1300772.html

This story really lacks beef for where it's posted on the site. This is a great story and the other news outlets are beating you to the punch!

scylon1
November 19, 2008 2:35 p.m.

It just goes to show that there are still people who are interested in artifacts and take the time to do research to find out the why, when, and where. As for how they got the bell on top of the building, my guess is with a pulley system. This student should be commended by the City of Raleigh Fire Department for his investigative research.

whocares
November 19, 2008 2:21 p.m.

Here's a very good story about the bell:

http://www.technicianonline.com/news/1.405818

robrcb
November 19, 2008 2:21 p.m.

glad WRAL changed the title. the first one was misleading.

jaredg
November 19, 2008 2:01 p.m.

Well, silly me, I thought that I was going to read about a good college prank, but I was wrong. So I thought I would "chime" in anyway with my original comment....