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HURRICANE — The Sons of Utah Pioneers and the Hurricane Historical Preservation Commission are partnering to return a 115-year-old bell to its original home in the city's town square. They hope to have the bell installed in time to ring in the next Peach Days.
The bell tower project has a budget of $30,000, much of which comes from RAP tax money allocated toward the effort by the city. A RAP tax allows a city to charge a small levy – generally a tenth of 1 percent – on certain sales, then use the money toward public-use projects encouraging recreation, arts and parks. The rest of the money for the bell project has come from fundraising by the Sons of Utah Pioneers.
At the Oct. 22 Hurricane City Council meeting, Mayor Nanette Billings, then a council member, provided an update on the status of the bell, which was bought by the city in 1906 and installed in the heart of Hurricane on State and Main streets.
On May 21, the venerable bell was removed at a cost of $6,000 from its latest resting place, the Red Brick Church.
After 115 years, the bell was understandably weathered. After sandblasting it clean, FX Industries of Hurricane donated their time to powder-coat the bell a gleaming gold and the yoke, crank and wheel a shining black.
