The Norwich Fire Department on Main Street has its 1898 bell back after a few years in storage. The structure holding it was rebuilt and illumination will be added next. (Photo by Kelli Miller)

NORWICH — The Norwich Fire Department located at 31 East Main Street has its bell back on display after a few years in storage. The old structure holding the bell had rotted underground and caused the heavy bell to nearly collapse.

City of Norwich Fire Chief Jan Papelino said, “The bell is in the same location now that it was a few years ago and we are excited to have it back on display for sure. Next, will come the lighting.”

Papelino said, “One Friday evening as I was leaving the station, I noticed the previous bell tower appeared to be leaning toward East Main Street. I measured the corner of the roof structure to the masonry surrounding base and noted the distance.”

He said the following Monday morning when he returned to work, he measured the structure in the same area. The corner that he measured had dropped 1.5 inches over the weekend and it became imperative to get the bell removed from the tower so the structure didn't collapse and damage the bell.