Burned-out Conn. bell factory resumes production

The Associated Press, Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 1:41pm (PDT)

EAST HAMPTON, Conn. (AP) — A 180-year-old New England company that made a bell for the Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life" has resumed production, four months after its factory in East Hampton, Conn., burned down.

Employees of Bevin Bros. Manufacturing have begun turning out bells at a smaller, temporary factory. They are filling the annual order from the Salvation Army for the steel and brass bells the organization uses during its kettle drives.

That's welcome news to people in East Hampton, which has long called itself Belltown USA. East Hampton once had more than 30 bell manufacturers. Bevin Bros. is the last one.