Bell made by foundry of Paul Revere recovered from fire

WILLIAMSTOWN, Vt. (AP) - A historic church bell made in the Boston foundry of Paul Revere has been salvaged in a church fire in Williamstown.

“That’s an incredible historic artifact,” Stephen Morse, a church organist and historian, told NECN.

The bell was badly blackened in the fire on Monday night that heavily damaged the Williamstown United Federated Church. No one was in the church at the time.

“It’s upsetting to see a historic landmark right in the middle of the village going up in flames,” Chief William Graham of the Williamstown Fire Department said. “But you know, our crews and mutual aid teams worked hard and did awesome at trying to contain it.”

Church members believe the bell can be cleaned and restored.

“We have a lot of heritage in our church,” church treasurer Nancy Avery said. She noted that an unusual and historic organ was lost to the fire.