City of Owen Sound Collaborates with Grey Roots Museum & Archives to Preserve Historic Bells and Clockworks

The City of Owen Sound is donating a collection of historic artifacts from the former City Hall clock tower to Grey Roots Museum & Archives, ensuring they are preserved and accessible for future generations. The donation, approved by Owen Sound City Council on July 27, 2026, includes five historic bronze bells, four clock faces, and the original clockworks. It grew out of an opportunity identified through the City’s continuous improvement ‘lean’ program to enhance long-term stewardship for these artifacts.

When Owen Sound became a City in 1920, Council decided that a functional clock should be added to City Hall. A square brick tower was constructed in 1921, replacing the cupola, with a four-sided clock featuring Roman numerals and spade hands set against white glass. Inside the tower were five bronze bells from Gillett & Johnston of Croydon, England, that chimed every half hour; the same foundry that supplied the bells for the Peace Tower Carillon in Ottawa in 1926. When a fire destroyed most of Old City Hall in February 1961, the clock stopped, but the tower remained standing. The four clock faces, clockworks, and five bells were salvaged from the building and have been in storage since that time.

Grey Roots collects and preserves artifacts that relate to all time periods, municipalities, and cultures of Grey County’s history. This collection is managed and preserved for future exhibition, research, and interpretation. Grey Roots currently stewards over 16,000 artifacts. By transferring these artifacts to Grey Roots, the City ensures that these items are properly assessed and conserved for future generations to enjoy.

For more information, please contact Michelle Palmer, Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Operational Effectiveness, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1246 or email mpalmer@owensound.ca.

Quotes:

“This partnership helps protect an important piece of Owen Sound’s heritage and ensures these artifacts remain accessible for future generations.”

-      Mayor Ian Boddy

“Grey Roots is pleased to welcome these artifacts into our permanent collection, where they'll be conserved, exhibited, and made accessible to researchers and visitors for generations to come. This transfer means the City of Owen Sound's Old City Hall history will now be part of Grey Roots' physical and online collections, cared for alongside the rest of Grey County's heritage.”

-      Sim Salata, Curator, Grey Roots Museum & Archives

Quick Facts:

• Owen Sound City Council has approved donating historic City Hall bells, clock faces, and clock mechanism to Grey Roots Museum & Archives, ensuring these significant artifacts are preserved and accessible for future generations.
• The artifacts date back to the 1921 City Hall clock tower and include five bronze bells from renowned English bellmaker Gillett & Johnston, salvaged after the 1961 fire that destroyed most of Old City Hall.
• By transferring the collection to Grey Roots, the City is placing these important pieces of Owen Sound’s history into the care of Grey County’s leading heritage institution for conservation, research, and future exhibition.

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