Limestone County Courthouse Bell

Limestone County Courthouse Bell. . For more than a century, this bell rang in the Limestone County Courthouse to notify residents of the time of day and of momentous events. The Courthouse and surrounding Square have been the heart of this community since Limestone County's founding fathers cleared the Square of trees and used the logs to build the first courthouse., . 1820, Courthouse I , First Limestone County Courthouse built on the Square. , . 1825, Courthouse II , County replaces log courthouse with first brick courthouse. Structural damage soon begins to show. , . 1835, Courthouse III , Four-year construction of second brick courthouse completed. , . 1864 , Courthouse burned during Union occupation. , . 1869 , Four-year reconstruction of Courthouse interior completed. , . 1871 , Bell installed in courthouse to chime the time, and to announce opening of court and major events. , . 1874 , Bell rung in celebration of the election of Athens' own George S. Houston as Alabama governor. , . 1919, Courthouse V , Three-year courthouse construction completed, with 1871 bell from antebellum courthouse installed in dome. , . 1974 , Bell replaced with electronic chime system during renovations. , . 2015 , Bell removed from courthouse attic during renovations. , . 2018 , Bell and original red oak support beam installed in bell house on the Limestone County Courthouse lawn., Athens Post, Oct. 27, 1871 , "Our Town Clock and Bell have come at last and will soon be put up and in ringing order, and then the gladdening peals will greet our ears reminding us of the antebellum days.", Dedicated in 2019, to honor the 100th anniversary of the Limestone County Courthouse, by the Limestone County Commission, Limestone County Historical Society, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association, and Frederick and Julie Martin.