The Willamette Station (Station 59) is one step closer to completion after crews installed a historic fire bell that has been part of West Linn history for more than 60 years. According to former West Linn fire volunteers, the 700 pound steel alloy bell was used before World War II in the original Willamette District building as a way to summon firefighters to the station during calls for service. The bell lived on in front of the former Station 59, which was built in the 1950s.
During construction of the new station, TVF&R shipped the bell to a company on the East Coast where it was refurbished. Crews used a crane to hang the bell on the new building. The bell includes an electronic ringing device so TVF&R can ring the bell during special occasions.
TVF&R expects to begin moving the crew from Station 59′s temporary location into the new building in early March.
