Bell Tower Park

General Location:

Located at the intersection of Jefferson St. and Tyler St.

General Description:

Bell Tower Park sits atop the raised berm overlooking downtown Port Townsend. It is a popular place to view Port Townsend Bay during the City’s various maritime events. There is a small bench and landscaped garden beds.

History:

In 1890, Port Townsend's Fire Bell Tower was constructed as a 75-foot wooden structure designed to hold a 1,500-pound brass bell and the City's new $900 fire engine. The ringing bell rallied the community to fight fires, providing a coded signal as to the location and severity of the blaze. In October of 1889, the American Telegraph Company began erecting poles and stringing wires—the poles to be equipped with boxes containing signaling devices for the transmission of fire alarms. Gamewell Company “Excelsior” model fire alarm boxes were installed at strategic locations throughout the City. By 1933, 21 were in service. The archives of the Jefferson County Historical Society (JCHS) show that construction of the 75-foot tower began in 1890. The cast inscription on the bell reads "Vanduzun & Tift" on one side and "Buckeye Bell Foundry 1891 Cincinnati" on the other. Since 1890, the Wooden Tower has weathered countless storms. Every decade or so, the community comes together for yet another round of fundraising for its restoration. In March 2004, the Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) named Port Townsend's Fire Bell Tower, restored by the Jefferson County Historical Society and the City of Port Townsend in 2003, as the recipient of the 2004 State Historic Preservation Officer's Award for Resource Stewardship.