AFD History

• 1876 Ackley City Council authorized formation of Fire Hook and Ladder Co. Council authorized the building of a fire station.

• 1881 Bell was cast in 1881 by: Buckeye Bell Foundry, Cincinnati, Ohio.

• 1881/82 On receiving the newly cast bell it was believed to be placed in the Ackley Hook and  Ladder Company Building.  This building was located on the west end of what is now the Ackley    Fire Department property.

• 1890's During this time a wooden water tower was built in Victory Park.  The Bell was then hung  from this tower.  The first water tower mains were put in about this time.

• 1914  Bell was moved from the wooden tower and placed on the new 3 legged 56,000 gallon       steel water tower located at what is now Ackley Super Foods.

• 1929 Council passed ordinance organizing the Ackley Fire Department.

• 1964 The bell was taken down and placed in storage in the Hofmeister Garage Building, across    from the Ackley City Hall. When the first steel water tower (4 legged) was taken down a new 500,000 gallon structure would take its place.

• 19?? Hofmeister Building was taken down to make way for the Ackley City Garage.  Bell is moved to the Ackley Waterworks Building.`

• 1998 Ackley Maintenance Personnel took the bell to the dump.  It was retrieved a very short time later and placed on the Illinois Central RR loading dock.

• 1998 The Ackley Tourism Commission moved the bell from the IC RR loading dock and hung it in Firemen's Park.

• 2002  Bell is moved to its present location at new Ackley Fire Department Building.