Plans to help bell factory unveiled

EAST HAMPTON, Conn. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined the president of the Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Co. to announce efforts to help the East Hampton bell company recover from a devastating fire in May.

Matt Bevin is sixth generation bell maker at Bevin Brothers and he's determined not to be the last. A fire destroyed the 180-year-old East Hampton company in May, but it didn't extinguish its spirit.

"We're committed to being in this as long as it takes," Bevin said. "Keeping the bells in belltown."

Low interest loans will help him rebuild, and a push to find customers overseas is expected to help the company grow once he does.

"If these bells are not made in this factory the only place people can buy them is China," said Blumenthal.

Always an innovator, Matt Bevin is actually using the effort to rebuild to make money for the company while it's in this condition. Some bells were even salvaged from the rubble.

For $10 folks can get a box with an insert which highlights the history of the company and its products. Plus a bell which survived the fire.

"I mean it sounds fantastic," Bevin said, "it sounds like hope, it sounds like progress."

Many donated time and materials to design and build the boxes. The Senator will deliver two to the president and vice-president. Bevin is also selling bricks and shirts to fund the rebuilding.

"Even though I worked only part-time it's a big family," said Todd Hungerford.

Some of the 26 workers are back to work in a temporary shop; one order they will fill is for the Salvation Army.

"It is our intent when you hear the bells ringing on the street corners, by the red kettles this Christmas, they will be Bevin Bells," Bevin said.

Beyond that it will take lots of time and money to completely come back.