Hundreds of people converged upon the Tamaqua Train Station last week to see Schuylkill County’s Liberty Bell unveiled to the public.
The fiberglass bell was hand-painted by students in the Tamaqua Area Middle School Art Club. It will rest in the park near the Train Station, next to Tamaqua’s Liberty Tree. The bell is one of dozens celebrated across Pennsylvania, part of the Bells Across PA project, with at least one located in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
“It’s been an honor to work and grow with this group of students,” Tamaqua Area Middle School art teacher Kimberly Woodward said at last week’s ceremony.
Schuylkill County’s bell in Tamaqua features scenes from the area’s history and images of its culture.
Ellie Bamford, a student in the Middle School Art Club, said of working on the bell that she and others learned how to work together and lean on each other’s strengths to complete the project.
“By combining our individual strengths, we transformed a group of different skills into one cohesive vision for the bell,” Bamford said.
She said that working on the bell project allowed her and her fellow club members to learn about Schuylkill County’s history and its significance in the telling of America’s 250 years as a nation.
“These are memories that we’ll never forget,” Bamford said.
Last week’s ceremony was attended by local elected and public officials in addition to the hundreds of onlookers excited to see the bell’s unveiling.
Tamaqua Mayor David Clemson said, “What they created is more than public art. It is a statement that our history matters, that our communities matter, and that the next generation is willing to carry those stories forward.”
Schuylkill County Commissioner Larry Padora said, “Having the bell here in Tamaqua and having the Liberty Tree here in Tamaqua … It makes me proud that this is my hometown.”
The Bells Across PA program was open to all artists in Pennsylvania. You can view an interactive map of all these bells by tapping or clicking this link.
More From Coal Region Canary
See all stories ›
Flood Watch Issued for Schuylkill County on Thursday
5 hours ago
Nabholz Has Allowed Just 1 Earned Run in 5 Appearances Since Promotion to Eugene
13 hours ago
Schuylkill County Man Used Brother’s Name During Traffic Stop Because He’d Been Sentenced to Jail for Driving on a Suspended License
14 hours ago
Barton Cards Sub-70 Round to Pace Haven; Blue Mountain Sweeps Tri-Match
15 hours ago
PennDOT to Host Winter Job Fair in Schuylkill County
17 hours ago
Schuylkill County Man Wanted After Police Say He Traded Nude Photos With 16-Year-Old
18 hours agoSubscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...