The Prison Bell

The Prison Bell. . , . Cast in 1875 , . Stands approximately 3 feet high , . Weighs approximately 800 lbs. with carriage, This bell was cast by W.T. Garratt's Brass and Bell Foundry in San Francisco, California in 1875. A sailing ship brought the bell up the Gulf of California from San Francisco, where it was transferred to a steamboat for its journey up the Colorado River to Yuma. , The bell's original purpose was to sound an alarm of escape. The ringing of the bell could be heard for many miles, alerting the townspeople of Yuma of an escape, riot,... or worse. In later years, it would be adopted to also call the men to and from work. , Once the prison closed, the bell sat silent until 1914 when the bell was purchased by the Somerton Baptist Church. For the next 23 years the bell would sound joy and praise, juxtaposing its original purpose. In 1937, Rev. Lloyd D. Wells felt it was time that the bell be preserved, and ultimately returned to its original location. Fortunately, Arizona State Parks purchased the bell to make it a part of the Prison museum. , Captions , Lower Left: The bell, placed on a prison building roofline, sits waiting to ring the alarm. , Middle Right: 1883 W.T. Garratt Brass and Bell Foundry catalog page