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Some days, it is green and pink; other days, it is red and black. Some nights, it is purple and white; yet by dawn, it is gold and green – or maroon and white. Today we remember the Victory Bell by its coat of paint, but did you know its ring used to be a sound of triumph?

On October 1, 1940, at an assembly sponsored by the Lettermen’s Association (today the Fairmont State Athletic Association), the Victory Bell was presented to Fairmont State Teachers College (today Fairmont State University) by the City of Fairmont.

Once on a Monongahela River oil barge, the bell was rung to announce athletic team victories and could be heard throughout the city. It was given the name “Old Boaz,” likely in honor of Boaz Fleming, the founding father of Fairmont. Students selected John “Shorty” Heim, a well-liked maintenance worker, to be the official bell ringer. In the 1940s, it was required under penalty by the Freshmen Counselors that freshmen men tip their beanie caps to the bell and freshmen women curtsey as they passed by as a symbol of respect.

With World War II, the Victory Bell was declared silent and was not rung again until V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) on May 8, 1945. It was rung for that victory and for the Americans still fighting in the South Pacific.

When the tradition shifted from ringing to painting the bell remains a mystery, but it likely occurred in the late 1960s. Over the decades, the bell’s location has changed with the expanding campus, and its clapper and handle have been removed. The Victory Bell still stands as a colorful expression of school spirit. For years, student organizations and sororities and fraternities have competed to make their mark on the bell. Like the colorful layers of paint, the Victory Bell blends traditions – old and new. Today, we pause to say we remember.

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When presented with the opportunity to hide one of the coveted "Virtual Rewards", I wanted to make sure I used it in a valuable and worthwhile location. After considering a variety of possible candidates, I was certain of one thing: I wanted to keep this rare cache icon in Fairmont. With a narrowed search, I began exploring my options until I came across one of the only places in Fairmont where you cannot place a physical cache; The Victory Bell. Due to the unique nature of this landmark, it is only fitting that it gets marked on the map with a virtual icon, as no two cacher's experiences will be the same. I hope you enjoy this interesting piece of Fairmont's history.

To find and get credit for this virtual cache, you will need to visit the coordinates above and complete the following task. Simply include your photo with your log - no need to send me an email.

Take a photo of you or a personal item with the bell as it is currently decorated.

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Virtual Reward - 2017/2018

This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.