PORT TOWNSEND — You could say Jefferson County Courthouse’s bell went a little dingy late last week.
County officials silenced the more than 100-year-old bell after an unknown malfunction sent the local landmark ringing out of control Saturday night.
It is the second time in two years that the 140-foot-tall clock tower’s normally reliable chime rang out until its power was shut off, said county officials.
The bell began ringing Friday morning, was repaired and then started up again about 10 p.m. Saturday, said county Administrator John Fischbach.
The county’s top official asked Allen Sartin, county director of Central Services, to discern the malfunction and come back with recommendations for repairs.
“This is an old clock, and periodically things just slip and it takes a while to figure it out,” said Sartin.
“Most of original mechanism, except the motor, goes back to the 1890s.
“Legend has it that the bell was pulled across the Plains and the clock mechanism was shipped around (Cape) Horn,” historical information on the courthouse states.
“The bell was reportedly drawn into position by a white horse. The E. Howard Watch & Clock Company of Boston, built both the bell and the clock mechanism of solid brass in 1891.”
