A Glance at Pierce High’s Victory Bell
Launch the media gallery 1 playerby Alle Koehler
On May 23, 1940, the headline read “‘Victory Bell’ Is Dedicated: Old Public School Bell of 1878 Vintage Finds a New Home.” Pierce High School’s victory bell is now awaiting a new home this spring in front of the high school south of the flag poles near the front entrance to the school. The Victory Bell was first installed outside of the old high school building. Then it was moved to the existing new high school on north Sunset Street in the southeast corner of the entrance area.
Currently, the Victory Bell sits in the bus barn; however, superintendent, Kendall Steffensen says “The school plans to put it back up once we find and build a brick layer to hold it.” Pierce High’s Victory Bell was installed in 1878, which makes it about 143 years old. The bell was originally placed in the belfry of the one-story wooden building that served the Pierce school district in 1878. Originally, the bell first called children to school in 1878. Then in 1885, when the old wooden schoolhouse was replaced by a two story, eight room brick building, the bell was transferred to the belfry of the new building. This building was razed in 1922, and the bell was lowered, sat silent, and never summoned the students together again.
The bell was re-dedicated in May of 1940, where it sat in front of the old school. Delbert Raasch, a former varsity club member, gave the dedication address at a ceremony marking the dedication of the Pierce High school Victory Bell. The bell was then formally accepted by Bruce Boyd, another member of the varsity club. The Pierce High victory bell was originally sponsored by the varsity club.
The Victory Bell used to ring out for after every Bluejay victory, and it stands not only for the high standard of athletics at Pierce but also the scholarship and sportsmanship. The bell was rung when the team would return home with a victory; however, it now is missing the middle dong that would make it ring.
In May 1999, the Victory Bell renovation was completed and the bell was placed at the current high school. Rick Higgins designed the 1999 structure, Ted Hoffmann completed the masonry work, Roy Mittelstaedt finished the bricking, while Wayne O’Neal, Randy Holmes, and Ron Riedel did the welding work, painting, and polishing.
The imprint on the bell shows it was cast in 1876 by the Buckeye Bell Foundry, Vanduzen & Tift makers, Cincinnati. On the wheel and yoke carrying the bell is this inscription: Rotary Yoke, patented Oct 20, 1866. The Victory Bell was the old school bell used prior to 1938. The Thursday, October 27, 1938, Pierce Leader article summed up the installation of the Victory Bell, saying, “It will do the older people of the community good to hear the old school bell that used to call them to school used again for school activities.”
According to Jim Raabe, head groundskeeper, “The hardest part about putting the bell back up will be finding someone to put the brick base in.”
