The Paul Revere Bell

Paul Revere began his bell-making career quite by chance when he offered to repair the cracked bell from the Second Church in Boston in 1792. Prior to that his reputation was as a silversmith.  At age 57 he thus began "the first large scale bell-making establishment in America." The bells are approximately 3/4 copper and 1/4 tin. The Revere bells were variously marked REVERE, REVERE BOSTON, REVERE & SONS BOSTON, and REVERE & SON (as is the Meeting House bell). Paul Revere left the business in 1811.

On April 2, 1807, the “freeholders and other inhabitants of the North Parish voted to accept Colonel Paul Revere’s proposal for a new bell to their meeting house” because the old one was broken.  The new bell was listed as of “1200 weight” and was inscribed “Revere & Son- Boston, 1806” and cost 45 cents a pound ($540 total).  Paul Revere and his second son, Joseph, were the bellmakers. According to historical records, the Canton foundry of Paul Revere and Son produced over 950 bells. The Meeting House bell was the 19th cast by the Revere foundry and is one of 23 remaining Bells cast by Revere during his tenure with the Foundry.  It was hung in the Fourth Meeting House and then moved to the tower of the present Meeting House during its construction in 1836.   Except for a period of time when the bell was silenced because of worn rafters and rusted supports, it continues to peal every hour as well as on both joyous and solemn occasions.

Although Revere steeple bells were noted for their clear, mellow tones, many were lost due to cracking or melting in fire.  It is said that Revere felt that improper hanging and ringing were responsible for many of the cracked bells.  Each bell from his foundry carried this guarantee:

“This bell is warranted for twelve months accidents & improper usage excepted; and unless it shall be rung or struck before it is placed in the belfry,

or tolled by pulling or forcing the tongue against the bell, by a string or otherwise.”

 Like many church bells, this one has been modernized.  The bell remains stationary while it is struck by a hammer.   Former North Andover Fire Chief and longtime North Parish member Dana Fischer installed a mechanism that electronically controls the bell.  During Meeting House restoration work done in 2005-06, the bell’s cradle mechanism was re-greased, allowing the bell to once again be manually rung by the rope in the foyer.