NEW BETHLEHEM – On Friday, July 3, New Bethlehem unveiled a 250th anniversary bell as part of the America250PA Bells Across Pennsylvania program.
The bell was unveiled at its permanent home next to the American Legion Veterans Park and was sponsored by the Charles Leach Agency, Clarion County Community Bank, Falcon Settlement and Shirey Overhead Doors.
Lisa Goth, president of the Leach Agency, spearheaded the effort.
“This bell puts New Bethlehem on the map,” Goth said. The bell is one of more than 120 bells across Pennsylvania, with at least one bell in every county.
New Bethlehem received the bell after area native Colin Sheffer, program coordinator at America250PA, reached out to Goth late last year about hosting a bell and gathering sponsors.
“New Bethlehem received the bell because we had businesses in the community that were willing to sponsor it,” Sheffer said. “Without the sponsors, particularly Lisa from the Leach Agency, this wouldn’t have happened.”
The goal of the Bells Across PA program is to honor Pennsylvania’s role in the history of the United States and leave lasting monuments to the nation’s 250th anniversary across the state. New Bethlehem’s bell was the last to be unveiled. Tourists and local residents were eager to see the bell and tried to learn its location before the ceremony.
As part of the program requirements, the bell must be in a publicly accessible location and must stay there until the end of 2026.
“In our case, we found somewhere we’re going to be able to display it permanently,” Sheffer said. When asked what it meant for New Bethlehem to be featured, Sheffer said, “To have our hometown on the map as part of this national celebration and state initiative is really special.”
The bell was painted by local artist Linda Moore. Titled “Treasures of Clarion County,” the bell features scenes from around the county, including the Smucker’s peanut butter factory in New Bethlehem, Clarion University, the Clarion County Courthouse and the Brady’s Bend overlook.
Other scenes on the bell include Autumn Leaf Festival, Cook Forest State Park, the New Bethlehem Town Center and her sculptures along the Redbank Valley Trail, the Climax Tunnel, the historic Foxburg Country Club, the large cow statue near Sligo, the Clarion County Fair, a farm scene, Pottery Field in Hawthorn and the Redbank Valley History Center, with a sign for the New Bethlehem Peanut Butter Festival.
At last week’s ceremony, Moore said she was honored to have the opportunity to paint the bell but was overwhelmed at first.
“I’ve lived here my whole life, but when I started researching what we have in this county, it’s astonishing what we have in our backyard,” Moore said.
The unveiling ceremony opened with the national anthem, sung by Randy Bowser. Dignitaries included state Rep. Josh Bashline, state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, Clarion County Commissioners Wayne Brocious and Braxton White, and New Bethlehem Mayor Rev. Dr. Gordon Barrows.
Local fire companies, including Clarion Fire and Hose Co. and the New Bethlehem, Distant, Hawthorn and Shippenville volunteer fire departments, sounded their sirens when the bell was unveiled.
“It has really been a community effort, for both the funds and the labor,” Goth said.
Rich & Sons helped fabricate the pedestal for the bell, and Josh Shevitz helped with setting the blocks for the base.
“Not every town could get one,” Sheffer said. “The fact that we had people in the community who were willing to step up and sponsor, design and install the bell is something our town should be proud of.”
The community is encouraged to visit the bell at the American Legion Veterans Park off Wood Street in New Bethlehem. A full video of the ceremony will be shared on the RedbankValley.org Facebook page. A map of bells across the state is available at VisitPA.com.