Unusual Nicknames: East Hampton Bellringers

On game days in East Hampton, Connecticut, celebrations come with a familiar sound: the ringing of a bell.

Known as “Belltown, USA,” the town proudly carries a bell-making legacy that still resonates throughout the community – including at its high school.

At East Hampton High School, the Bellringers mascot represents more than school spirit. It honors more than two centuries of local manufacturing history, a tradition that began in 1808 when the town’s first bell factory was constructed.

During the 1800s, around 30 firms built and operated shops or small factories producing school bells, door bells, ship bells, church bells, farm and livestock bells, ice cream bells, sleigh bells and more. Tens of millions of bells were manufactured in East Hampton in the 19th and 20th centuries, making the town a center of U.S. bell production and a leading supplier worldwide.

East Hampton, located about 20 miles south of Hartford, was incorporated in 1767 and was largely driven by shipbuilding. In 1807, William Barton brought extensive knowledge of bell-making to East Hampton and established the first foundry, training a generation of bellmakers.

After decades of prosperity in the industry, several factors led to a decline in bell-making production in the early 20th century.

Today, Bevin Brothers, founded in 1832, is the last remaining dedicated bell manufacturer in the United States. Family-operated for nearly two centuries, the company produces dozens of types of bells, including the Christmas bells used by the Salvation Army. Bevin also made the bell used in many fights by Muhammad Ali, the bell that rang in the open and close of the New York Stock Exchange for nearly seven decades, and the bell featured in the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life that gave the character Clarence his wings, among other famous bells.

East Hampton’s Belltown Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district claims that East Hampton is the only mill town in the nation known to be exclusively devoted to bell-making.

At East Hampton High School, the Bellringers mascot can be seen and heard throughout the school year. Athletic teams feature a bell logo on their uniforms, and a bell tower on campusis rung after victories. The school even uses a bell to start home cross-country meets instead of a starter’s gun.

By keeping the bells ringing, East Hampton High School ensures that the town’s clangs and chimes continue to echo for generations to come, celebrating a unique heritage that has shaped the community for more than 200 years.

Jordan Morey is manager of communications and media relation at the NFHS.