DHS class of 1991 working to restore football bell

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Dalton High School Catamount football fans have probably heard the ringing of the bell at Harmon Field, and many have even had the opportunity to ring it.

This tradition has been a part of Dalton High football since approximately 1960 thanks to a gift from the late Alfred Jones. He was a collector of bells, and he thought that Dalton High needed a victory bell to ring at football games.

For those who do not know about this tradition, the bell is rung each time the Catamounts score and tolls the same number of times as points on the board for the Catamounts. However, the last 50 years have taken their toll on the bell, and because of the wear and tear on the structure supporting the bell, it has become difficult to transport to away games.  

As a gift to Dalton High, the class of 1991, which will celebrate its 20th class reunion this weekend at homecoming, has decided to have the bell restored and the trailer holding the bell rebuilt. This is made possible due to generous donations from Coldwell Banker Kinard Realty (Amy Kinard Cole, Mike Maret and Joe Swanson) as well as gifts from other 1991 classmates. Also, Jeff Rizer and his team at Textile Industrial Sales are helping significantly with this project.  

Jones was the grandfather of Alfred Turley, who is a member of the class of 1991, which makes this project even more special since there is a family connection among the graduating class.  

If you would like to be a part of restoring this great DHS tradition, send contributions to Dalton High School, 1500 Manly St., Dalton, GA 30720, with checks marked “Bell restoration.”