The fire bell hung in the bell tower of the City Hall building constructed on this site in 1896. When a fire was reported, the bell rang for fifteen seconds and then sounded one, two, three, or four strokes to show the ward where the fire was located. Volunteer firemen responded by mounting the fire wagon as horses were released from their stalls and moved into place beside the wagon tongue, where the harness was dropped into place and connected before the team proceeded to the fire. The first floor of City Hall contained the city clerk's and city collector's office, the marshal's office, the city jail, the fire wagon, and horse stalls. The second floor contained the fire chief's living quarters, water plant offices, the mayor's office, and the city courtroom. The building remained intact until 1982, when Trenton Trust Company purchased it.