Century-old schoolhouse bell restored for Wa-Hi football tradition
By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
WALLA WALLA — A century-old bell is heading to the football field to help ring in a new athletic tradition at Walla Walla High School.
The 500-pound artifact originally hung at the old Blue Creek School in the Mill Creek area before spending nearly 40 years sitting at Station 45 of Walla Walla County Fire District No. 4. When Walla Walla High School Athletic Director Chris Ferenz began searching for a bell to start a new spirit tradition following stadium renovations, he reached out to the local fire district.
Before the bell could take its new place on the sidelines, local students stepped in to help restore it. Students and teachers at SEATech Skills Center designed and built a custom transport cart for the heavy iron bell. Over the course of the project, students completely disassembled and cleaned the artifact, remanufactured a missing internal clapper, and applied protective wax to preserve its natural antique patina.
The restored bell will make its official debut on Friday at 7:00 p.m. during Walla Walla High School’s home football opener.
“It’s like it’s come full circle from one school back in the day, the Blue Creek School, and now being used by another school district here, and so many different people coming together to make this happen,” Fire District 4 Chief John Golden said.
Photos courtesy Walla Walla County Fire District No. 4
