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Show V ' ' ( , . . 1 ' u . . Old bell goes Into place atop Pangultch Middle School as students watch process. The bell Is a bicentennial project and plans to have It rung The first Panguitch Bicentennial event took place Wednesday when the original curfew bell purchased July 9, 1900 for the sum of $45.00 from the J. B. Sorenson company was mounted upon the Panguitch Elementary School. "Every time you hear this bell ring remember this is the symbol of education, symbol of your schooling and your life and what becomes of you in the future," Mrs. Mary Henrie, member of Panguitch's Bicentennial committee told the students that were able to attend this event. When the old middle school was torn down,-the bell, which was mounted in the steeple of the school had to come down. "It took 10 men holding ten different ropes which had been tied to the bell to help lower it," Bruce Owens, principle of the Elementary school said. And even then, the 725 pound bell broke all ten ropes, causing the bell to fall on the edge of the truck it was being lowered into and breaking a piece out of the bell. Dell Cooper, city employee at the time, took the bell, and after many long hours of hard work fixed it so the broken place could not even be seen. The bell was then taken to Howard Construction and Welding and a mount was made enabling the bell to be mounted upon the elementary school In such a manner it could and is rung at 8 twice dally have been completed. The bell was first used around the turn of the century In the Panguitch area. Curfew Bell Placed Atop School As Bicentennial Project For Panguitch a.m. and 8:30 p.m. each day, indicating the commencing of school. The bell will also be run at other important events. Carol Hatch, president of the American Legion Auxiliary last year was responsible, with the help of the Junior Auxilliary girls for getting $180 of the money needed in construction, painting and fixing up of the bell. This is the heritage part of the bicentennial program which made it possible for this city to become a Bicentennial City, the preservation of the original pioneer bricks, by using them to build the restroom of our park was another part of the heritage of the city. November 13, 1899 the recorder, M. J. Burgess was "instructed to confer with the proper companies in regard to a curfew bell," state Panguitch City records. At the same meeting, an ordinance called the curfew was passed this ordinance states: "Section 1: Any minor under the age of 16 shall be in their house after the ringing of the bell. "Section 2, it shall be the duty of the city marshal! to ring the city bell for the space of two minutes each day as follows: From May 1st to October 1st of each year at 9 o'clock p.m. from October 1st to May 1st to October 1st of each year at 9 o'clock p.m. from October 1st to May 1st of the next year at 8 o'clock p.m." After receiving communications from "several companies" the order for the bell was placed December 11, 1899. By May 4, 1900, they had still not received the bell and the recorder was instructed to write J. B. Sorenson in regard to the curfew bell and ask that the order be filled at once or the city would cancel the order. July 9, 1900, they received the bell. Many interesting experiences have been told by the early residents of the city in connection with the bell. City records show that on December (Continued on Page 5) Curfew Bell Is Placed Atop School (Continued from Page I) U. 1904, there was to be "a committee of three be appointed to wait upon Mr. Pratt and notify him to close his business with "the exception of the barber chair at Ihe ringing o' the curfew and also on Sunday and that there be no loafing allowed at anytime." Harry Judd and Mrs. Mary Sargent said that if the bell would ring at night it would mean that there was an emergency If there was an emergency or fire In the day time the bell would ring between one half to one hour. They both tell of a time that a young girl six years old was missing. Albert Wade, lived out of town north about six miles on the farm. One Sunday their daughter came into Sunday School and she was supposed to wait to go home with one of their friends. She did not wait for them, instead she started walking but she headed out south instead of north. About 4 p.m. the bell started to ring, the sheriffs posse and a group of concerned people started south of town along the Sevier River and went through town and towards their home. Another group of people went north of town, she was found up Dede Hollar about four or five miles the next morning by Norman Sargent. One person tells us he was so emotionally tired and so thankful she was found that when the girl saw him coming and started to cry, Mr. Sargent also showed his thankfulness and began crying also. Another says that she was in a herd of sheep, she had been with them all night and when she saw Mr. Sargent she said, these are pretty lambs, not upset at all. The bell commenced to ring and the men started to shoot their guns to tell everyone she was found. |
