London police investigating after 150-year-old Lorne Avenue Park bell vandalized
CBC
A historic school bell dating back to the Victorian era will be returned to its home in London's Old East Village soon, the city said Friday.
That's after the cast iron bell, located at the northeast corner of Lorne Avenue Park at Lorne Ave. and English St., was unceremoniously removed from its stands on Wednesday by a vandal.
In an emailed statement on Friday, a city official said the incident had been reported to London police, and that the bell was now in the care of park operations staff.
"We know the school bell is an important artifact from the former Lorne Avenue Public School, and we look forward to returning the bell to the park as soon as (is) feasible," said Jeff Bruin, manager of parks design and construction with the City of London.
In a statement, a police spokesperson confirmed that police were investigating damage to a bell at the park and that the investigation was active and ongoing, but provided few other details.
"If there is additional information to share after the weekend, we will do so by way of media release," said Sgt. Sandasha Bough in an email.
Several neighbours living near the park who witnessed the incident told CBC News that the bell was left on the ground in front of its mount after it was broken off, but the bell itself wasn't damaged.
One neighbour wheeled the bell to their house to secure it until city crews could pick it up, they said.
They allege the individual who removed the bell also tried to break into a nearby electrical box and jumped on vehicles.
None of the neighbours would agree to go on the record citing safety concerns.
The historic bell dates back to the first school built on the property in 1875, where it rang for decades until 1950 when the bell and its tower were removed during roof repairs after a violent storm.
"For scores of years, it had ding-donged the hours of work and play for the girls and boys. However, the age of electricity moved in, and the old bell lapsed into silent retirement," the school's then-principal, W.D.E. Matthews, wrote in 1955.
"One summer night, in the midst of a violent thunderstorm, aroused by a piercing, shattering bolt of lightning, it shuddered, clanged, and spoke no more."
The bell was put on display in the school's foyer and would remain on display in the new Lorne Avenue Public School building that was erected in 1970.
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