Watch Westfield Winners Ring The Historic Bell On New Year's Eve

Westfield NJ

28 December, 2020

5:23 PM

Description

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield Historical Society held a raffle fundraiser this month in which the first prize winner gets to ring the historic town bell 21 times to say goodbye to 2020 at midnight on New Year's Eve. The society announced last week that the first place winner is Nicole Bresnahan. She and her family will have the honor of being the first family to ring the bell on New Year's Eve at the historic Reeve House. In addition, Bresnahan also won a $100 gift certificate courtesy of Chez Catherine Restaurant, and a bottle of champagne. The second place winner is Tom Lezynski, winning a $100 food certificate courtesy of Echo Lake Country Club; and, the third place winner is Gail Stock, who won a $50 gift certificate from Limani Restaurant. The Bell Ringing will be live-streamed on Facebook from the Reeve House, via the Westfield Historical Society Facebook page. "So, for those who wish to forego the usual New Year's Eve ball drop, please tune in to Facebook (WATCH HERE) and watch the Westfield New Year's Eve Bell Ringing at midnight," the society said, "and start a new tradition." Created from cast steel in 1869 The Westfield Town Bell originally hung in the Prospect Street School from 1869 to 1921 where it also served as the town's fire bell. The bell rang at armistice and at the end of WW I. From 1922-1985, it hung in the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Chapel's steeple and subsequently became property of Presbyterian Church which later donated it to the Westfield Historical Society. During 1993-1994, it was restored with funds raised by the Westfield Historical Society, with the help of Jack R. Panosh (town bellmaster), Ralph H. Jones (town historian) and Richard Edge of the Westfield DPW for the Westfield Bicentennial in 1994. It was originally made by Vickers Sons & Co. Limited, Sheffield [England] in 1869 of cast steel. For many years, the bell was displayed and rung during the Westfield Memorial Day parade and stored by the Westfield Historical Society. In 2019, a stone monument was erected by Alexander McGrail for his Eagle Scout Award project. The monument currently displays the bell on the grounds of the Reeve House. Recently, a roof and column structure was built by the Society to protect the bell for future generations to enjoy. Historical Society The Westfield Historical Society celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018. Since 1968, the 501(c)(3) non-profit Westfield Historical Society has worked to preserve, interpret and encourage interest in history, Westfield, and its residents through educational efforts and community outreach programs. For more information on the Westfield Historical Society and their events, visit http://westfieldhistoricalsociety.org; follow on Instagram and like on Facebook. Got news? Email [email protected]. To be the first to get news alerts with breaking stories in Hoboken, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.