Fergus Falls weighs returning historic City Hall bell to cupola

Fergus Falls officials are weighing whether to return a 1,500-pound historic bell to the City Hall cupola or keep it on display inside the building, a choice that will affect safety, preservation and how the downtown landmark is presented to the public.

The question grew out of a frightening structural problem in September 2025, when the bell became unstable and forced the evacuation of City Hall. City Hall and the 100 block of West Washington Avenue were closed on Sept. 19, 2025, and a crane contractor was brought in to secure the bell. Crews safely removed it from the top of City Hall on Sept. 22, and the building reopened the next day, though the front door was not immediately accessible.

The bell sits at the center of a building with deep local history. Fergus Falls rebuilt City Hall after an earlier one burned in 1927, and the current building was completed in 1929. The structure was designed by St. Paul architect William M. Ingemann after a design competition, and the site had been donated by Vernon A. Wright. City Hall was later added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 10, 1984.

That history is why the bell’s next home matters beyond the building itself. The Fergus Falls Heritage Preservation Commission, formed in 1974 to advise on historic preservation, is one of the local voices likely to shape the discussion as city officials weigh whether the bell belongs back above the roofline or should remain safely displayed inside. The decision will force a practical balance between restoring a familiar part of the skyline and avoiding another round of work on a structure that already proved vulnerable.

Just as important is the cost. Returning the bell to the cupola would require more than putting it back where it once sat. It would mean another lift, more engineering review and a secure installation above the roof, all of which could push the price well beyond a simple indoor display. For Fergus Falls taxpayers, the choice is not only about memory and appearance, but about how much the city should spend to preserve a symbol of downtown identity while keeping the public safe.