After nearly 150 years, a historic bell that rang in the birth of Canada will be going home for a visit. The S.S. Victoria bell, which resides in Maine, had been the source of a minor cross-border spat for years. But after a special vote held Wednesday night, the citizens of Gouldsboro agreed overwhelmingly to let it go.
The Victoria was famous for the role it played in bringing delegates together during Canada's confederation process in 1864. Its bell wound up in Maine, given to a Gouldsboro sea captain for acts of heroism. But repeated attempts from Canadians to repatriate the historical treasure — permanently — meant that when the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa asked to borrow it for a new exhibit, people were reluctant. So the town had to put it to a vote of the people. It passed by a large margin.
Gouldsboro selectman Roger Bowen was a proponent of sending the artifact, which has been described as Canada's Liberty Bell. Bowen says while about a third of voters had concerns and did not wish to risk sending the bell over the border, he's certain the museum will return it to Maine.
"I think that will establish a relationship of trust between Gouldsboro and the Canadian museum," he says.
The museum is also borrowing items from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The bell will be part of a Canadian confederation exhibit for nearly a year.
