LYNNFIELD — The restoration of the town’s beloved bell has been completed.
Friday morning, the bell was re-installed on top of a slab of Lynnfield granite on the town common.
“We are a town with a rich history and tradition and have an obligation to preserve items and structures of historic significance,” said Select Board Chair Dick Dalton. “This represents one more important step forward in the beautification of the town common and the center itself.”
Robert Shure, owner and president of Skylight Studios in Woburn, which completed the restoration project, said that steel bells like Lynnfield’s are rare. He said that it had rusted and corroded because the metal wasn’t protected.
“They felt that this is the time to do it, otherwise the situation will snowball,” Shure said.
The bell, which Shure estimated weighs about 2,500 pounds, was hoisted off its slab by a crane and brought to Skylight for restoration in mid-May. Skylight determined the best course of action would be to sandblast the bell to bring it back down to the bare metal, so it was transported to a Rhode Island studio which could perform that process.
Finally, the bell was coated in a special epoxy that will protect it from the elements for many years to come and prevent more corrosion from occurring.
“It’s totally worth doing, because if you don’t take care of things like this, it’ll get to be in bad condition,” Shure said. “It’s not too good for the history of the object, which is kind of the image of the town.”
Dalton said he was extremely pleased with Skylight’s workmanship.
“That firm recently completed the restoration of the Robert Gould Shaw and Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial located in the Boston Public Garden,” Dalton said. “We selected them because of their reputation of quality craftsmanship. They did a great job on the Public Garden sculpture and certainly didn’t disappoint on the bell restoration.”
Calvary Christian Church donated $5,700 to fund the restoration project, which is part of a larger effort to revitalize the historic Lynnfield Center.
Recent improvements to the common include a new septic system; new lighting, pathways and improved walkways, curbing and crosswalks; and a new, organically-maintained lawn.
In addition, the Historic Centre on South Common Street has been rededicated as the Pope-Richard Family Lynnfield Historical Centre. The interior is currently receiving a facelift in the form of new paint.
Built by Taylor Vickers & Co., the bell dates back to 1859. It was installed in the Meeting House in 1918, which served as Chemical House No. 1. The bell was used as the town’s fire alarm bell from 1903-1960. It was retired from active duty in 1960. In 1964, the bell was installed on its current resting place on the common.
“Once again, on behalf of the Town and the Select Board, we thank Executive Pastor Jamie Booth and the Calvary Church for funding this project,” said Dalton. “I’d also like to recognize DPW Director John Tomasz and Town Engineer Charlie Richter for managing this project and the entire upgrade of the Town Common itself.”
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].
Tréa Lavery can be reached at [email protected].
