Historical Tidbit: The First Bell Caster
Aaron Hobart was the first bell caster in the colonies. He lived in the town of Abington, which is now Whitman. He lived from 1729 to 1808.
He established his bell casting business in 1769. The first bell that he cast was for the Second Meeting House of the First Parish church of Abington. It was traditional back then for the people to throw silver dollars into the casting basin to give the bell a sweeter tone.
That first bell remained in the Second church until 1819, when the church was torn down. After that, it was placed in the Third Meeting House, called Hatherly Hall.
Having a bell caster in America ment that people no longer had to send bells to be recast, and could get bells made in America.
Information Credit: findagrave.com
Historical Whitman, Massachusetts
Story Credit: Gregory Venezia
