The Crystal Falls Town Hall was at the southwest corner of Superior Avenue and Fourth Street in Crystal Falls. The two-story building featured a bell tower and hose-drying tower that was 36-by-40 feet. The first floor, which had 11-foot ceilings, housed the fire department. The second floor, with 16-foot ceilings, was divided into three rooms.

In September 1887, the Crystal Falls Town Board authorized the purchase of a suitable bell for the Town Hall tower, which arrived in October.

The inscription on the bell states Centennial Bell Foundry — G. Campbell & Sons, Milwaukee, Wis. 1887.

The first photo is an early view of the Crystal Falls Town Hall, including the bell tower.

Today’s view of the 138-year-old City Hall bell at the Harbour House Museum, 17 N. Fourth St. in Crystal Falls. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

For the first time since it was installed, the fire bell sounded at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 28, 1888, for a fire at the George Desbien home on the corner of Marquette Avenue and Third Street.

In November 1911, the Crystal Falls City Council made plans for the abandonment of the Town Hall built in 1887 due to it being in unsafe condition and a fire trap. A committee was formed to develop options for construction of a new City Hall, as well as secure temporary facilities for the fire department equipment.

Edward Gustafson bid $160 in April to purchase and remove the old Town Hall. The bid was accepted, with demolition of the structure to begin immediately and completed within 30 days.

The fire bell, which had been displayed outdoors during construction, was moved to the tower in the new building in 1915. It was noted the bell was so connected it could be rung from the fire department rooms in the rear of the building.

In March 1917, the City Hall purchased a new fire siren, which was supposed to carry the whistle sound for 10 miles. However, they were disappointed with the results, as it couldn’t be heard halfway down Superior Avenue. Later that year, the city council instructed that a second siren be purchased. The bell was then discontinued for use as a fire alarm and was only rung on special occasions, including the end of World War I.

City crews removed the bell from the tower of the southwest corner of City Hall in 1991. It was lowered into the basement, as it was too wide to fit through the fire department room door.

In 1993, as part of his Boy Scout Eagle Scout patch effort, Darin Emens offered to clean the bell that was still in the boiler room.

Two years later, the bell was transported to the grounds of the Harbour House Museum. The Lions Club constructed a concrete pad and erected a stand on the northwest corner of the museum where the bell was mounted.

The bell sat in that area until 2016, when the support structure failed. Volunteer Ray Green then fabricated and installed a new structure that now supports the bell. A rope connected to the clapper allowed museum visitors to ring the bell; the sound can be heard throughout the Paint River Valley like the old days.

The second photo is today’s view of the 138-year-old bell at the Harbour House Museum, 17 N. Fourth St. in Crystal Falls, one block north of Superior Avenue.