Revere Bell

From WakWiki

The large "Paul Revere bell" is famous in town because it was made by the firm of Paul Revere. The work was probably done by his son, Joseph, but the bell is considered an original Revere bell because it was cast during his lifetime. The bell, weighing "about eight hundred and fifty weight", was purchased in 1815 by the town of South Reading for the parish for $350. The bell was hung in steeple of the First Parish Congregational Meeting House. In 1859 it was moved to the cupola of the Town's meeting hall on Church Street. The town hall was moved in 1871 to the corner of Main and Salem Streets and the bell moved with it. In 1888 is was moved to the new High School, what is now the William Lee Memorial Town Hall (Lafayette Building). In 1930 the bell was relocated to the lower lobby of the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, and in 1973 was brought up to the main floor lobby in the historic part of the building. The bell was transferred to the Wakefield Savings Bank during the Library's renovation and reconstruction in 1997. Later, it was moved to the lobby of the Galvin Middle School, where it remains today. A more detailed article on the bell's history was published in the Wakefield Item on Tuesday, September 18, 1990, page 16. A copy of the article is in the Local History Room clippings file.

References

• Wakefield Daily Item, Tuesday, September 18, 1990, p16.