Fire Bell Transformed Into Water Fountain

A recent search through photographs of the courthouse show a water fountain located in front of the building since the early 1900s.  Over the years the fountain itself has changed several times.  During the mid-1900s an old fire truck bell was converted to form the fountain. 

The story below, “From Fire Bell to Water Fountain” is from Ecusta’s monthly publication The Echo, November 1948.

We used to have a lot of bells in Brevard.  There were Church bells, school bells, the Court House bell and others, but older residents remember one bell which sounded as no other did.  This was the fire bell.

Yes, older residents remember the old familiar clanging—how it rang out over the town and the story it told.

Lads mowing lawns under specific instructions by their parents to finish the lawns come what may, would drop the handles of the lawn mowers and run through yards, fields, briar patches and various obstacles in the general direction of the fire bell.

On one occasion, it is distinctly remembered that one small eight year old, with great excitement written across his face, raced along the sidewalk dragging behind him a baby carriage which held his frightened, wailing baby sister.  The baby’s safety forgotten, baby blankets dropped to the sidewalk as the race to follow the fire truck continued.

Then there was another bell which played a great part in clearing the way for the fire truck and informed us of a fire.  It was a bell which was situated on the front of the truck.  As the old engine chugged along the street it could be heard above the noise ringing loudly.  With these two bells, it isn’t surprising that the youngsters were so greatly attracted to the fires.

Then like old Dobbin, the old bell was replaced by a siren.  In 1925 it was removed and placed rather sadly in a corner in the City Hall.

This 1943 photograph of a group of Girl Scouts in front of the Court House
clearly shows the old fire truck bell turned water fountain.

However, a fireman at the time, felt that the old bell with such interesting history back of it, should not be allowed to remain in the corner catching dust and becoming covered with rust.  He suggested that it be put to use as a water fountain.

After a period of inactivity, the bell which once rode to the fires clanging its message out to the town, was made into a water fountain and today it is in use in front of the County Court House in Brevard.  The old fire bell is still serving a very useful purpose and is a constant reminder of the days that used to be.

By 1962 the fire bell turned water fountain had been replaced.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.