On Dec. 31, 1943, the Maritime Commission tanker "S.S. Mission San Rafael" was launched from Marinship in Sausalito with a San Rafael Mission bell recovered from Rancho Olompali sounding over Richardson Bay. The bell was one of four "lost" bells that had rung in the mission's early days to signify the end of the workday or beginning of Mass — during the Gold Rush rancho families allegedly took these church ornaments from the "unprotected" mission to help preserve them. Because of subsequent damage from the elements, three bells are now in the church museum, with replicas taking their places. The fourth bell (pictured) was stolen in 1990 and has never been found.
History Watch is provided by the Marin History Museum, www.marinhistory.org, and appears Tuesday in the Generations section. Images included in History Watch are available for purchase by calling 382-0770 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.org