For the last couple of years, the Moose Jaw Heritage Advisory Committee has been talking about two bells with a deep history in our city. At present neither is in “ringing condition”, but that is something the committee would like to change.

Councillor Crystal Froese is supporting the restoration of the bells and she’s excited for what could lie ahead.

“The Heritage Advisory Committee has done a fair bit of work in compiling the history of the two bells. They are a very important part of our cities history, and I myself would love to hear the city hall bell ring.”

The first of the two bells is over 111 years old and has been around almost as long as Moose Jaw itself. It was first used to signal the evening curfew and it served as Moose Jaws fire alarm. When that bell was taken out of service and replaced, it was housed in Crescent Park just outside the Art Gallery. After it’s removal from that site it’s location became a bit of a mystery until it was discovered in the city yards a couple of years ago.

That first bell has been repaired by volunteers from Sask Poly Tech and the desire now is to build a “derrick”, or stand, for the bell so it can be put on display. Further restoration will also mean the bell can be rung on special occasions.

The second, newer, bell is in city hall mounted above the clock. Although it remains in its perch high above Moose Jaw it hasn’t been used for many years. It’s believed it last rang in the early 1960s.

The goal of the Heritage Advisory Committee is to bring that second bell back to life with the installation of an electronic clapper and improvements to where it is housed. This work should allow the bell to become functional again and ring through downtown Moose Jaw.

Froese says that funding for projects like this should be part of a larger heritage strategy.

“I think part of this issue is we have to start addressing historic and heritage buildings, and aspects of them, as assets of our city. If we would incorporate those into capital plans we wouldn’t be looking at years and years of decay and waste.”

Two motions will be made at the city council meeting tonight seeking funding for the continued restoration of the two bells. We’ll have the story tomorrow morning on DiscoverMooseJaw.com.