The First Pickering Company of firemen was formed in 1888. The volunteer fire fighters ordered a 500 pound bell from the Clinton H. Meneely Bell Company in Troy, New York . Whenever fire was discovered in the village, the first person to reach the fire hall would ring the bell to call the volunteers to report for duty. Besides its principal function as a fire alarm, the bell was rung four time daily by a paid bell ringer at the hours 7, 12, 1 and 6 to announce the beginning of the work day, lunch time, the end of lunch hour and the close of the work day.
