Downieville Bell Tower’s Noon Siren Timing Fixed

DOWNIEVILLE — The Downieville bell tower is home to a warning siren for fire and other emergencies, tested daily at noon. Unfortunately, the tower’s clock gains time at a high enough rate that by January 8th, 2025, the siren sounded at 12:09 PM. On January 9th, however, the clock was finally reset, and the siren once again sounded at noon sharp, thanks to Public Works Director Bryan Davey and a series of calls to the manufacturer, which struggled to provide instructions for such a “legacy” system.

The good news comes soon after the unfortunate recent damaging of the bell by children who climbed the tower to ring it, cracking the lip in the process. The clapper has now been chained and locked in a central position.