City Hall clock tower bell chimes again

Posted 12/24/13

The ringing of bells has long been mentioned as part of holiday traditions and adds to the festive nature of this time of year. At Warwick City Hall, as part of extensive renovations, the …

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City Hall clock tower bell chimes again

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The ringing of bells has long been mentioned as part of holiday traditions and adds to the festive nature of this time of year. At Warwick City Hall, as part of extensive renovations, the long-dormant clock tower bell has been permanently re-activated just in time for Christmas, Mayor Scott Avedisian announced last week.

Since the summer, crews have been repairing the 120-year-old building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The project, funded by a national preservation grant through the Department of Interior’s Save America’s Treasures program secured by U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission grant, and municipal bonds approved by voters several years ago, should be completed soon with the arrival and installation of the refurbished tower spire and weathervane.

The project has included a new copper roof and tin ceiling, the gilding of new numerals and hands on the clock face, installation of new balustrade over the portico, replacement of 12 urns that were removed during renovations several decades ago, and the installation of flower boxes on the front of City Hall. The project also entailed cleaning and repairing the front facade, re-pointing and replacing bricks, painting the cornice, columns, and front door, painting, cleaning and debugging the clock and bell tower, and cleaning and repairing granite steps and installing new railings and a granite city seal in the front plaza. 

There’s also new lighting in the belfry, and the bell wheel has been repaired with mahogany pieces. The historic clock mechanism has been retained and the gears are now re-attached to the bell hammer, allowing the bell to ring again. As has been the case for many years, the clock mechanism will be wound manually once a week.

E.F. O’Donnell & Sons Company was awarded the project bid. Crews have been working in cooperation with the city’s Planning Department, Department of Public Works and its Maintenance Division.

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