Bell that tolled for five military brothers in the 1940s returned to Bay City family

The large brass bell hanging at Revette’s bar and restaurant on Bay City’s West Side didn’t ring often. During World War II, Wilbur “Papa” Revette rang it to let city residents know that a shipment of beer — a scarcity at the time — had come in. And it tolled every New Years Eve five times for the five Revette boys in active military duty during the war. On Dec. 31, 1944, Wilbur Revette went about the tradition as usual — a ring each for Frank, Darrell, Lyle, Jack and Ron. This time, though, the bell stopped after four rings, refusing to ring again, the often-told family story goes. Shortly after, the family learned that one son had died in battle.

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