Historic Atlanta Fire Bell

Historic Atlanta Fire Bell "Shall this faithful servant of the city, bearer of a proud name, be left to disintegration and oblivion?" E. McCallie, about the Atlanta fire bell, 1939.

Japanese-American civic organizations raised more than $300,000 to shelter and display this 500 pound historic Japanese ...
09/29/2022

Japanese-American civic organizations raised more than $300,000 to shelter and display this 500 pound historic Japanese bell on the grounds of the Carter Center. The Atlanta fire bell is four times larger, far more meaningful to Atlanta, and continues to sit unprotected, unmarked with signage, and ignored in the yard of Atlanta Fire Station #1.

Don't let the New York embossment at the top of the bell throw you--this bell was custom made for the Atlanta Fire Depar...
09/15/2020

Don't let the New York embossment at the top of the bell throw you--this bell was custom made for the Atlanta Fire Department and has only seen service in Atlanta. It was installed and dedicated just three years after Atlanta was bombed and burned during the Civil War.

Updated photo of the fire bell and environs May 2020. On the far right is a cell tower in front of Mercedes Stadium. In ...
05/15/2020

Updated photo of the fire bell and environs May 2020. On the far right is a cell tower in front of Mercedes Stadium. In the middle is the newest addition, the Reverb Hotel by Hard Rock. Just above the fire truck is a new red numeral 1, for AFRD Station #1. The fire bell's 153rd anniversary is August 8 of 2020.

Two views of the Atlanta Fire Bell and environs...
09/04/2019

Two views of the Atlanta Fire Bell and environs...

Here is where you can drive by and see the Fire Bell--one of the oldest artifacts on display in Atlanta.
09/02/2019

Here is where you can drive by and see the Fire Bell--one of the oldest artifacts on display in Atlanta.

08/08/2017

152 yrs. ago, August 8, 1867: In Atlanta, GA, back in late April, the several-day fair to benefit the city through the Fire Department was held in celebration of the completion of the brand-new Fire Station Number 1 and the arrival of Atlanta’s first fire engine with pumps powered by steam in lieu of human efforts. There was a contest of contributions that served as votes for the naming of the steam pumper and the new bell, that would cost the contributors $960. The amount was raised and Miss Emma Latimer, the winner was honored with the naming of the pumper, “Castalia”. Miss Augusta Hill (Future Oakland Cemetery “silent citizen”) came in second and is honored by having her name cast into the new bell’s surface. The bell was immediately ordered and arrived a week ago. The tower has been readied, and the 1,995 lb. bell has been installed, ready for dedication tonight. Amid the fanfare of Professor Clarke’s Silver Band, the Presidents of the four Fire Companies, together, take hold of the rope and pull for the first peal to ring across the city. Atlanta Historian, Franklin Garrett, will write: “For the next quarter of a century the celebrated bell announced to the citizens of the city the incidence of fire, indication the approximate location by numbered strokes for ward numbers. It tolled also the passing of Ben Hill in 1882; Alexander Stephens in 1883; and Henry Grady in 1889. It also told of the departure, in the bloom of young womanhood, of the beautiful Augusta Hill Thompson, for whom it was named (Ed note: 1878).”
-- from the blog "150 Years Ago Today" by Larry Upthegrove

04/30/2017

"150 yrs ago today, April 30, 1867: In Atlanta, GA, it is all about the fire department today. The city has ordered a new steam pumper fire engine from New York, and it is believed to be in shipment. A new Fire Company No. 1 building is under construction to house the new engine, and it is almost complete, with a provision for a huge fire bell, a bell that is not within the City’s budget. The ladies of the City have put together a two-day fair, beginning today, for the purpose of raising money to pay for the bell… One of the fundraising activities is the voting process. Citizens who pay money will decide for whom the new engine will be named, and for whom the new bell will be captioned. Voters must pay for the privilege of voting. When the votes are all counted, Miss Emma Latimer will receive 200 votes, entitling her to have the new steamer named for her. (Incidentally, the new engine arrives today, in time to be displayed as a part of the related activities). Second place will go to Miss Augusta Hill with 75 votes. Miss Hill is a future “Silent citizen” of Historic Oakland Cemetery, and will have her name inscribed on the city’s new fire bell, now a reality because enough money is raised today to pay for it. The Broad Street Theater, event location, has seen a very good time today, it will again tomorrow, and end with a gala event tomorrow evening….a really good event for the rebuilding of our fire department. The bell will be ordered immediately and be here in late July. I will let you know."
- Larry Upthegrove, from his blog "150 Years Ago Today"

Here is a photo of the fire bell with the new Atlanta football stadium under construction towering in the background. Th...
02/13/2017

Here is a photo of the fire bell with the new Atlanta football stadium under construction towering in the background. This photo was taken on February 12, 2017. The new stadium is scheduled to open in June of 2017. There is still time to have the fire bell ring for the opening of the new stadium but its restoration will have to start soon. The fire bell will be 150 years old on August 8, 2017.

01/10/2017

“We are confident that we will be able to restore the bell back to functional order. We would strongly suggest that the bell be rung only occasionally after restoration. Excessive use could result in the crack re-opening, however we believe it will withstand ceremonial use for years to come.”
-- Brad Connell, co-owner of Prometheus Bronze Foundry in Lexington, KY,

The old Atlanta fire bell is dedicated to Augusta Hill. Her name is embossed on the side of the bell and is quite legibl...
10/15/2016

The old Atlanta fire bell is dedicated to Augusta Hill. Her name is embossed on the side of the bell and is quite legible today. The Kenan Research Center had this photo of Augusta Hill filed away under her married name, Gussie Hill Thompson. Also, here is a bio clip about her from an unknown writer in 1908:
Mrs. Joseph Thompson nee Augusta Hill
Journal Nov. 14, 1908
"Out of the distance that seems like a dream, there comes to many residents of the earlier days of Atlanta the vision of a woman who was beyond all doubt, the most beautiful and popular woman of her day. Tall was she, and slender as a reed, with ivory skin and great psychic eyes of deep dark brown. A woman vested with the intangible essence of a magnetism envied by all, possessed by few. In the personality of Augusta Hill there was a charm, more of spirit than body, although she was regarded as a beautiful woman, as far as face and figure go.
During her reign as a young lady Miss Hill had the social world at her feet. Men and women of distinction who visited Atlanta sought her presence and attention, and after she became the wife of Mr. Joseph Thompson of this city, she still made her home and his a place in which some of the most brilliant gratherings of the time assembled.
…
Her beauty was that of spirit, and though many years have passed since she went away, no one who know her has forgotten how like a queen she moved among life’s happy throng, the happiest of them all."

Here is a recent photograph of Gussie Hill Thompson's gravesite in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery. In the background a MARTA...
10/08/2016

Here is a recent photograph of Gussie Hill Thompson's gravesite in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery. In the background a MARTA (subway/elevated) train glides by. MARTA is now 44 years old. Gussie had been at rest here for 94 years when MARTA started operation back in 1972. The Atlanta fire bell, in the yard outside AFRD Station #1 with her name embossed on it, will be 150 years old next August 8, 2017.

In the Atlanta Historical Bulletin, official publication of the Atlanta Historical Society, No. 16, dated January 1939 i...
09/03/2016

In the Atlanta Historical Bulletin, official publication of the Atlanta Historical Society, No. 16, dated January 1939 is an article titled "A Grand Ladies' Fair" written by Elizabeth Hanleiter McCallie. The article is the story of how the Atlanta Fire Bell, and a "steamer" were funded by a four day ball put on by the ladies of Atlanta in 1867. The article is rich in detail but the point of this posting is how it ends. Ms. McCallie described the end of the bell's career saying, "The bell was removed from the fire headquarters and is now on the roof of Engine House No. 7...The clapper is missing and the bell is exposed to the elements...the old bell hangs silent, the prey of wind and weather. Shall this faithful servant of the city, bearer of a proud name, be left to disintegration and oblivion?" That was written seventy-seven years ago.

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