At a brief ceremony this week the George H. Holbrook bell, which once hung in the cupola of Paul Whitin's original cotton mill in Whitinsville has come back home.

The cast bronze bell came from the George Holbrook Foundry in East Medway in 1833. Throughout the 19th century it rang the start and end of each work day. Together with church bells, it regulated the lives of those who lived in what is now Whitinsville.

George Holbrook Sr., who started the bell foundry, was an apprentice of Paul Revere in the famous silversmith's bell foundry. His son, George Handel Holbrook had taken over the actual castings of bells at the time this bell was produced. However, the father remained active in the business overseeing the tuning and installation of the bells.

Upon the close of the Whitinsville Spinning Ring Company, the last occupant of the mill prior to Alternatives purchase of the building in the 1970s, the bell was donated to Old Sturbridge Village where it has been maintained and displayed until its return this week.

Sturbridge Village has graciously gifted the bell back to the Whitin Mill where it will take pride-of-place in the renovated Mill which now houses apartments for individuals served by Alternatives and artisan studios and shops.