What weighs over 1,200 pounds (about the same weight as 20 young children) and can be heard at least once weekly? Does Gorham's own Paul Revere bell come to mind?
Back in the mid 1980's, one of Gorham's well known natives, Merle C. Brofee, designed and wrote a small children's book sharing the history of the Revere Bell which is located in the First Parish Church steeple on School Street. Her book, dedicated in memory of her son-in-law, Samuel C. Hoyt, Jr., was shared with many of the church parishioners, a few of whom still have a copy in their possession.
The very large brass bell was made in the bell works by Paul Revere and his sons and was delivered via ship from Boston to Portland. From Portland, it was carried to Gorham by oxen.
According to a description of its raising, the bell rested quietly on the ground on the south side of the belfry with the shears, or scaffolding, was rigged out from the bell deck and ready for hoisting. At around ten a.m. on June 7, 1822, the fall was passed through the snatch block, and secured at the bottom of the belfry and laid some fifty feet on the ground.
When word was given, every man, woman and child who was able took hold of the rope and walked slowly and steadily, raising the bell aloft. After the bell landed safely on the deck, it was fastened with an eyebolt over the bell frame and by noon time the bell was ringing. The connecting rope is 110 feet long and is attached to a wagon wheel. This rope can then "roll" the bell back and forth allowing it to ring.
Brofee's book did not say whether the bell had been blessed before being raised aloft, but without doubt, many speeches were made.
Gorham's Revere bell not only called people to church on Sunday mornings, but also was used as a fire alarm or to announce other town emergencies. Today, this same bell still rings to honor special celebrations or perhaps to mark the passing of a Gorham native.