Hartley Dodge Memorial Horn to sound at midnight on January 1, 2021

Madison, NJ – December 22, 2020 – At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2021, the horn atop Hartley Dodge Memorial (50 Kings Road) will sound as we welcome in 2021 and put 2020 behind us forever.

The 85-year-old horn apparatus, which sits at the top of Hartley Dodge Memorial, is bolted to the metal superstructure, right underneath the massive bronze bell which was installed by Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge and her husband Marcellus Hartley Dodge in 1935. Originally used to signal fire calls, and inform residents of snow days, the horn is now blown at key important times throughout the year, including September 11, and most recently on every Monday at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as we honored the frontline workers.

With this year not being an ordinary year, the nonprofit Hartley Dodge Foundation, in coordination with the Borough of Madison will sound the horn at midnight on January 1, 2021. Since its original purpose was to inform the residents of issues, the horn is able to be heard up to 6-miles away, depending on the direction of the wind.

We’re informing residents that the sounding of the horn should not come as a concern or worry, but more as a way for us to put 2020 behind us and move forward to a hopeful, healthy and positive new year in 2021.