To help commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation on July 4, the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce and Palmerton Area Historical Society are taking part in the “Bells Across PA” campaign.

Through their collaborative efforts, they are showcasing some of Palmerton’s local bells through a presentation. The hidden treasures provide a look at our past and a brief part of history of the Palmerton area.

Bells on churches and other buildings, including schools, have long been used as a means of alerting, celebrating or honoring, as well as marking the time of day or signaling the start of meetings or services.

Rory Koons said that in mid-2024, Frank Hager and the Rev. Michael E. Mullins were looking for someone to restore the church bell that had sat in the Sacred Heart garage for decades, and that his name had surfaced.

The bell was removed from their chapel, or the Holy Cross Church in Bowmanstown (currently owned by The Carbon Model Railroad Society), before selling the building in 1997.

“After inspecting the bell, I felt it was possible to clean and polish but realized it would be a challenge,” Koons said.

Koons, of Lower Towamensing Township, said work began in August 2024, and 125-plus hours later, it was completed.

“Several individuals heard about this project, including the Palmerton Area Historical Society, who recommended I could provide a session on the restoration to their group,” he said. “After a few discussions, it was determined that perhaps we could provide a presentation on the area bells with the PAHS locale and commemorate Pennsylvania’s theme of Bells Across PA 250.”

As a result, Koons said he then “started out on a journey to uncover these hidden treasures in our area, and find any old church bells and school bells that are in existence to document and photograph.”

“I have documented two dozen bells, along with the respective church or institution within the PAHS (area).” he said. “From this collection, the project has morphed into a larger geographical area encompassing bells in Carbon County.”

Koons said he reached out to Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein and requested he be allowed to photograph the Carbon County Courthouse bell. Koons was granted permission and urged by Nothstein to expand his presentation to Carbon County bells, an effort that is currently in progress.

“In September 2025, the Emmanuel UCC in Bowmanstown ceased and decided to sell all their assets except for their church bell,” Koons said. “They knew I was working on the project for the PAHS, and asked if I could restore their church bell, which they plan to donate to the Bowmanstown Borough and erect in the Oliver Solt Park and Pavilion.”

Koons, former chief and president of the Aquashicola Fire Company, noted the bell was removed on Oct. 21, two days before the public auction of the church property. Restoration work began the next day, and is nearly finished, he said.

Bells of Palmerton

The following is from Koons’ research for his presentation on Palmerton area bells:

• S.S. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Czecho-Slovakian: In 1917, about 160 families of Czechoslovakian origin separated from the Roman Catholic Church and built this structure. After World War I, the church closed for a few years but reorganized in October 1922. The church remained open for only a few years until the congregation disbanded. In 1947 the building was sold to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Association and operated as a club for years.

Many bell foundries ceased operating after WWII in part because of demand from the war effort and the cost of materials. After the war, there was a shortage of materials, which also affected the cost of bronze bells. Those factors contributed to many foundry closures.

• The Little White Church: In 1993, the Palmerton Area Historical Society purchased the church and continues to operate the facility for various activities and venues. Throughout its history, ownership changed many times. A chronological document with dates, congregations and facts relating to the LWC are available from the Palmerton Area Historical Society. Built in 1844 as the Snyder’s Evangelical Church, it was the first Evangelical Church in Carbon County. Originally it was built without the steeple, which was added around 1889. In 1914 the church was sold to Hungarian, Slavish and Vindish (Windisch) Lutheran Church of America.

• Salem United Methodist Church: Built in 1866, shortly after the village’s name changed from Millport to Aquashicola, by parishioners who attended the Little White Church until they decided to build their own church known as the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1968 a union with the Methodist Episcopal Church occurred, forming the Salem United Methodist Church. No photos of a bell in the tower, which was added in 1911, have been located. But local resident Sam Heiney offered this statement, “I recall my father (Kenneth) saying, as a child I would ring the bell.” The leads to the belief that a bell once existed and rang out the start of services and for funerals.

• St. George Creek Catholic Russian Orthodox Church: Built in 1896, this church was the home of the Trinity United Evangelical Church of Lehigh Gap congregation until 1916, when the Russian Orthodox Catholic Mutual Aid Society purchased the site for $3,250. The church closed in 2016 due to attrition. At its closure only three active members were present: Peter and Mary Kochmaruk and Caroline Hallman. It has been repurposed into three apartments at 730 Church St.

• Living Hope Lighthouse Church: After their original church was sold to St. George Orthodox at 730 Church St., this 1916 structure was built to serve as the Trinity United Evangelical Church. It currently serves the Living Hope Lighthouse congregation.

Current Pastor Keith House provided assistance with gaining access to the tower. From there, another 22-rung original wooden ladder had to be climbed to gain access to the Cincinnati Bell Co. bell.

Perhaps the town’s largest bell, unlike most bronze bells, there is no date on the 48-inch cast iron bell. However, this one is believed to be in the time frame of the erection of the building, circa 1916.

• St. John’s Episcopal Church: Stephen Squires Palmer provided the funding to build the lovely stone church. He commissioned a noted architect from New York, Henry J. Hardenbergh, to prepare plans for the stone edifice. The cornerstone was laid on Sept. 7, 1905, while the consecration of St. John’s was held on Oct. 11, 1906. The Meneely Bell Co., another premiere bell company, provided four bronze bells for the “Church on the Corner.”

• Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: Another stone edifice in the community is the Holy Trinity Church. This Gothic designed facility used native stone and was built in two phases. The lower portion was finished in 1914, while the second story was completed in 1927. While it’s unclear if the church ever had a “conventional” bell, it is known that the church did have tower chimes by Deagan.

The chimes, donated by Charles Prutzman, were 20 harmonically tuned tubes that were installed in 1947. The Deagan tower chimes most often required an experienced organist to belt out the lovely tunes.

Holy Trinity decided to remove and sell the chimes in 2012 due to cracks and failures of some of the chimes. Before being transferred to Galion, Ohio, several tubes were stolen from the church. But they were recovered by the Palmerton Police Department. The Peace Lutheran Church in Galion, Ohio, purchased the bronze tubes with the intent of replacing some of its tubes. However, they were apparently never used.

• Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church: In 1895, the Trinity Lutheran Congregation and church was formed, and in the same year, the church was built and services were conducted in their new home. The steeple, along with a new bronze bell, was added in 1903.

With a growing congregation, additional space was required, so the church purchased the adjacent Lodge Hall in 1960.

In 1971, ground was broken to upgrade the structures to improve the sanctuary, add classrooms and a new entrance, and perform renovations to the aging structure.

• St. John’s United Church of Christ: Built in 1916, the church’s 32-inch cast iron/steel bell (388 pounds) continues to signal the start of service every Sunday at the east end of Columbia Avenue. There are no castings indicating the manufacturer. However, the yoke’s style resembles a Charles Singleton Bell from the C.S. Bell Co. Hillsboro, Ohio.

• Jerusalem Union Church: In 1848, a log structure was built to serve the Reformed and Lutheran Congregations in the “Trochsville” area, as it was known at that time. They jointly shared the log structure until a fire occurred and destroyed the building. In 1891, the two congregations jointly built a new structure that served both congregations until 2001, when the two separated. The new Lutheran Church was erected in 2003.

• Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Bowmanstown: The Emmanuel UCC organized in 1903 as part of the Towamensing Parish and worshiped in the Trinity ELCA Evangelical Church for three years until the new church was completed. Dedicated in June 1906, the church has undergone several additions and renovations throughout the decades. The 32-inch bronze bell had been perched in the belfry since 1908 and continued to be tolled every Sunday morning.

Shortly after closing, an auction was held on Oct. 23, 2025, to sell the assets. Before the auction, the church’s consistory decided to remove the 1908 bell and donate it to the Borough of Bowmanstown. The bell will receive a new home at the Oliver Solt Park, which is named after a longtime revered citizen who was also an Emmanuel UCC parishioner.

It was removed on Oct. 21 and taken to the borough garage for a cleaning and restoration.

• S.S. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church: Founded by immigrants from Austria-Hungary who came to Palmerton to work for The New Jersey Zinc Co., they also built this beautiful church in 1918. Assisted by the Ukrainians, it served both the Greek and Rusyn congregations until the Ukrainians separated and built their church on Delaware Avenue.

The church celebrated its final Divine Liturgy on May 26, 2019. It sat idle for nearly three years before being sold to the Jaindl Corporation in 2022. The corporation then sold it to the current owner, Raulf Bird.

• St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Catholic Church: When families immigrated here to work for The New Jersey Zinc Co. in 1903, the Ukrainians, like many other immigrants, had no place to worship. To attend Mass, they had to travel to other communities such as Lansford, Nesquehoning or Northampton. Traveling to those nearby communities was no easy task in the early 1900s. With the onset of WWI looming, Ukrainians and Rusyns increased. In 1915 they started to build the St. Peter and Paul church to celebrate Mass with the Rusyns. In 1918, the Ukrainians separated, organized, hand dug the foundation and built their church in 1919 at a cost of $40,000, ($1 million today).

• Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church: After the German Catholic Church fire, Masses were conducted in the NJZ Third Street building until this church was erected and completed in 1908. The church stood for nearly 50 years. It was razed to make way for a new church.

• Church of the Holy Cross bell: With the assistance of Frank Hager, Bernie Shea and Mike Suprys, the bell was lifted into place and secured. It is hoped that its presence will be respected and unharmed. However, theft of bronze bells and the precious metal remain a fear. Following the morning Mass, congregants gathered to witness the Rev. Michael Mullins bless the restored piece of history.

Other bells

• Jacobs UCC Weissport

• Diamond Fire Company of Walnutport

• Slatington Hose Co. No. 1

• Carbon County Courthouse

• All Saints Episcopal Church, Lehighton

• Zion UCC, Lehighton

• Mrs. C.M. Schwab’s School Building

• Charles Schwab School, Weatherly

• St. Mark’s Church

Acknowledgments

Koons said several people assisted with the restoration projects and his presentation.

“We wish to acknowledge their contribution, whether large or small; the entire project would not have come to fruition without their assistance,” Koons said.

Koons said they include Frank Hager, the Rev. Michael Mullins, All-Trade Construction Ross Haydt & Shawn Quinn, NAPA Scott Heydt, Midwest Acorn Nut Co., Meredith Koons, Bill Strauch, Dennis Behler, Barry Scherer, Mike Suprys, Bernie Shea, Lynn Shupp, Aleks Everett, Robbie Kressley & Lower Towamensing Twp., Joann King, Judy Hoffman, James Chalus, Chief Tim Kromer.

Also, Tom Grannetino, Paul Hoppel, Tara Takerer, the Rev. Keith House, Jeff Crook, Carl Zimmerman, Paula Seiler, Barbara Wiemann, David Altricter, Esmeralda of McShane Bell Co., Raulf Bird, Stephen Goidich, Mike and Jeanie Samok, Manny Guedes, Chris Bixler & Devon White, Bowmanstown Borough, Paules Metal Works.