Ballard Historical Society looks to strike up the bell

Photo courtesy of Erin Kohlenburg

The 'Bring the Ring Back to Ballard' Project steering committee is having an informational meeting next Thursday about plans to automate the bell on Ballard Avenue.

A message to the public was published on the Ballard Historical Society blog on 5/1/11:

May 25th, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Ballard Library Meeting Room 

The Ballard community is invited to attend an informational meeting on the “Bring the Ring Back to Ballard” Project to discuss background and scheduled completion for automating the historic bell on Ballard Avenue. Ballard residents and businesses are encouraged to participate in final planning. This project is funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Fund award of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. For more information contact Peggy Sturdivant at 206-781-9031.

According to The Ballard Historical Society blog, an application for "funds to add an automated, programmable bell to the existing bell in Marvin’s Garden Park" was submitted in January and granted in March. The idea is an homage to Ballard history and tradition as "The bell would ring regularly as it once did to signal the end of the day for Ballard’s shingle mill workers."

The Neighborhood Matching Fund awarded the project $9700. Approved plans indicate that the bell will be programmed to ring regularly and will also be able to ring on-demand for special occasions.

'Bring the Ring Back to Ballard' is part of the first round of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods' Small and Simple Project Fund's 2011 awardees. The aim of the Small and Simple Project Fund is to grant monetary support to community members with projects focused on community-building, education and culture.