By Michael Butler

Bell Park is the centerpiece of Tallassee. Thousands pass by it each day.

Now those who drive by may notice some improvements in the landscape and the “Welcome to Tallassee” sign and bell (the namesake of the park).

An inscription on the bell reads, “Tallassee Falls M’F’G Co. Ala.” The plaque below it tells the story of the “long” bell.

“In 1886 this bell replaces the original which was installed sometime after 1844 for mill founder, Thomas Barnett. The bell was tapped to indicate the hour during the night and tolled for several minutes at 4:30 a.m. to awaken the mill workers for the day’s work. It remained in service until 1960. Erected 1974.”

J.E. Harris and Virginia Noble Golden elaborated more on the bell in their “History of Tallassee” books.

“Thomas Barnett frequently got up in the very early morning hours and rode to Tallassee to arouse the “bell boy,” Jim Freeman, who rang the “long bell” or “rising bell.” The original bell was reported to be given to a church near Notasulga. The present bell was installed in 1886.”

The ride to Tallassee was from Pike Road for Barnett.

“Visitors who are unacquainted with this Tallassee custom are sometimes startled by being awakened by the sound of the bell. They are sure there is a fire in town and that this is the alarm bell ringing.”

The 1886 bell was produced by McShane Bell Foundry of Baltimore, Md.

The preservation of the bell and having it moved to the current Bell Park was spearheaded by Grover Eubanks, who served for 50 years as office manager at the mill.

A “Tallassee Tribune” account noted, “There is talk of constructing a place for it in the center of town.” Hence, its location today.

Mayor Joey Wiginton spoke of the upgrades at Bell Park.

“The city council approved me finding some people and companies to bring Bell Park up to date,” he said. “All roads leading to Tallassee go by this park. We cut a couple of oaks that were dying, some old pear trees and pulled up all the shrubs. It really opened up the park.

“We brought Jake Crain in to help us really pull it together. We will be putting some memory benches throughout the park. I hope everyone likes what we’ve done. To me, it looks beautiful.”

With the holiday season right around the corner, the park will be on display for the city’s annual “Christmas Tree Lighting” on Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. Local businesses are invited to help illuminate the park with unique Christmas decorations. For more information, contact Heather Sayers at 334-612-0691 or the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce at 334-283-5151.

“The city’s done a lot of work. It looks nicer,” said Jerry Cunningham, executive director of the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce. “We’ll actually have a 14-foot tree we’re going to put out there. A lot of businesses will put up their own trees. We’ll have a program on that Sunday night at the gazebo.”