By ANN WERTMAN

Special to The Press

The Liberty Bell Museum in downtown Allentown observed its 60th anniversary on Sept. 25 and, at the same time, commemorated the 1777 arrival in Allentown close to a dozen cast bells from Philadelphia, including our precious American symbol, now known as the Liberty Bell, for refuge from the British occupational forces during the darkest days of the American Revolution.

In the early 1960s, Dr. Morgan D. Person and other Allentown patriots, wanted to preserve this little known piece of American history and excavated an area for the public to visit and “touch history” in the same space where these iconic bells from Philadelphia were hidden under the floor boards of the historic Zion’s Reformed Church in 1777-78.

Pennsylvania also gifted an exact size replica Liberty Bell to the new museum; a bell which has been rung inspiring more than half a million visitors who have come through the doors.

The original bell’s inscription, “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof,” is cast onto the replica, as appropriate today as it was in our Colonial days.

Dr. Dennis Blankowitsch, president of the museum’s board of directors, and the Rev. Joshua Knappenberger, museum executive director, led the event. Rain unfortunately forced the program to be moved into the beautiful Zion’s Sanctuary, thus canceling a planned antique wagon trek to originate at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and be pulled to Zion’s Church carrying yet another fiberglass replica Liberty Bell, used during the 1976 Bicentennial Wagon Trek re-enactment.

The wagon was to be surrounded by members of the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment in period costume, members of the 1976 Trek and many young ladies of Girl Scout Troop 650, New Tripoli.

The wagon and Trek replica bell reside in the collection of the Lynn Heidelberg Historical Society now housed in Ontelaunee Park, Lynn Township.

The 60th anniversary program included a very touching moment when Girl Scout Troop 650 lined the front of the church to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Following were musical numbers by the Louis E. Dieruff Band, vocalist Evelyn Stewart and local folk song artist Dave Fry.

Radell Ludwig, daughter of founder Dr. Morgan Person, shared recollections of the Person household during the period of conception of the new museum to the dedication day.

Local historian Frank Whelan set the time period in Allentown’s 1960s as the Liberty Bell Shrine, the original name, became a reality and thousands crowded the streets for the dedication.

Congresswoman Susan Wild led the local dignitaries including Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong and Matt Szuchyt of state Sen. Pat Browne’s office, R-16th.

Special tribute was also given to surviving local participants of the 1976 commemorative Pennsylvania Bicentennial Wagon Trek from Philadelphia to Allentown.

The original 1777 wagon train was said to number some 600-700 wagons hauling goods to and from Philadelphia, including the well guarded bells of Philadelphia hidden under straw and animal manure. Bill Stauffer, youth Trek participant in 1976, recounted his magical memories and all other Trek participants were recognized.

The Liberty Bell Museum, housed in the Nationally Registered historic Zion’s Reformed Church, the first church in Allentown, is home to a huge plaque listing the names and roles of the hundreds of 1976 Trek participants.

Through history, Zion’s Church has been used as a refuge during Indian raids, a revolutionary war hospital, a gathering place for the reading of the Declaration of Independence, the saving of the Liberty Bell and more.

In July, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum officially unveiled a marker on Hamilton Street in front of Zion’s Church noting the site’s official role of hiding the Liberty Bell.

Thousands of school children visit the Museum annually to participate in state certified educational programs delving into local history on both the elementary and middle school levels.

Before the recent disbanding of the Zion’s congregation, membership voted for a $1 gifting of Zion’s UCC historic building to Resurrected Life Community Church of 144 N. 9th St., Allentown.

A requirement of this gift was the continued guardianship of the Liberty Bell Museum for the future.

The Liberty Bell Museum, 622 W. Hamilton St., Allentown, is open noon-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.