'Turnback Tuesday' highlights Derby RR Bridge

Turnback Tuesday gives you a bird’s eye view of the RR Bridge crossing over the Housatonic River.

The bridge is marked with a red arrow. In the foreground is the Birmingham Iron Foundry.

This business started in 1836 by two brothers, Sylvester and Sullivan Colburn. It was not named Birmingham Iron Foundry until it was sold to Sheldon Bassett in 1850.

The business later merged with the Farrel Foundry in the 1920s. The factory was located where Home Depot is now.

Thanks as always to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

'Turnback Tuesday' (on Wednesday) features Farrel Foundry & Machine Co.

Turnback Tuesday stops by the Farrel Foundry & Machine Co. of Ansonia.

Started in 1848, Almon Farrel purchased the land from Anson G. Phelps (for whom Ansonia is named.)

Early on, they manufactured brass and iron castings and gears for water power installations. Almon was president until his death in 1857. His son, Franklin, followed in his father's footsteps and was president until 1912.

The Farrel Foundry was sending a notice to Seymour Manufacturing Co. in 1885 stating that foundation plates were being delivered.

Seymour Manufacturing started in 1878 by W. H. H. Wooster and produced nickel silver in sheets as well as wire and rod.

Thanks to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week!

Farrel Bell relocated Monday to Webster Memorial Park in Ansonia

Farrel Bell is now in place at Webster Memorial Park.

The city recaptured a piece of its history today by finding a new home for an 1877 fire sounding bell that for 87 years adorned the top of Farrel Foundry on Main Street. 

The bell, which had been in storage at Public Works for the past three years, was professionally restored at no cost to the city by Tracy’s Garage, and the bell’s foundation poured compliments of Frank Pepe Construction, both of Derby.

The bell was delivered today and moved to its new home at Webster Hose Memorial Park on Central Street, the site of Webster Hose’s original location that housed horses for the horse drawn fire carriage back in 1907. 

An inscription on the bell reads it was originally dedicated in 1877 to the memory of Almon Farrel, founder of Farrel Foundry. 

Farrel Pomini donated the bell in 2017 to the city when they left their downtown location to move into their state-of-the-art new facility at Fountain Lake Industrial park on the City’s west side.

In 1964, the bell was removed from the roof of Farrel Corp. and moved across the street to a small park adjacent Eagle Hose Fire Station.

A formal dedication ceremony will be announced shortly. The bell still rings and wow is it loud!

According to Webster historian Gene Sharkey:

The Farrel Bell was cast in 1877 at the Meneely & Kimberly Foundry in Troy, N.Y. in memory of Almon Farrel, founder of the Farrel Co. 
It was installed on the factory roof later that year and was sounded every day to signal the beginning and end of each shift. It was connected to the Ansonia Fire Alarm System in May of 1889 and sounded its first alarm on July 22, 1889. It was removed from the company bell tower on Nov. 14, 1964 and installed nearby as a memorial to Ansonia firefighters. It now has a permanent location in the Webster Hose H & L Co. #3 Park on Central Street.

Next time you’re in the area, take a minute to admire yet another bit of Ansonia history!

Workers move the Farrel Bell to Webster Memorial Park.

*Information and photos shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.