Fire Bell - Owego, NY
Posted by: 
ripraff
N 42° 06.174 W 076° 15.766
18T E 395588 N 4661971
1867 fire bell called "Old Joe" by courthouse
Waymark Code: WMMT6G
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 11/01/2014
Views: 1
"This is the original fire alarm bell purchased by the village in 1867. At first, it was hung in a 44 foot wooden tower at the north end of the park. When the new courthouse was completed, it was put in the northeast tower, where it served very well for 48 years, and in 1915, it developed a crack. It was at first sold back to the bell company, but sentimental citizens started a movement to save “Old Joe” named after one of Owego’s most famous fireman, Joseph S. DeWitt. To save it, the committee sold shares of “Old Joe” stock at 25 cents each and collected enough money ($600) to buy it back from the bell company. It was set up on this pedestal on August 25, 1915 and formally dedicated as a memorial to Mr. DeWitt."
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