100 years after it sounded its first alarm, the historic West Linn fire bell has been installed at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue’s new Bolton Fire Station 58. The bell, cast in the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland in 1910, has been refurbished after hanging on every fire station in the Bolton Neighborhood.
Workers are putting the finishing touches on the new fire station, which will be ready for move-in next month. Firefighters at the Bolton Station are excited to move into the new space. Although the old fire station is historic, its structure does not meet current ADA, seismic, or a variety of District standards. The apparatus bays are too small and lack the overhead clearance and depth required to house standard District apparatus. The current location results in delayed response times as crews must circle the block to access Highway 43.
The new station will have space to store more critical fire apparatus, improve response time to emergencies and include a community room that will be available for local non-profit organizations to use at no charge.
TVF&R’s Bolton Station firefighters will host an open house after they move into the station. The event will include a ceremonial ringing of the bell.
