The bell atop the Chapel of the Resurrection in the historic Mauch Chunk Cemetery remained silent for more than seven decades.

But the more than 120-year-old bell, which dates to the construction of the small Gothic stone chapel off the cemetery gates, will ring again this year, said Jack Sterling, cemetery association president.

The bell will be among hundreds of thousands of bells across the country heralding America’s 250th birthday on July 4, the cemetery association president said.

The chapel’s bell was cast by Meneely Bell Company, which was formed in 1870 in Troy, New York, and was renowned for casting chimes and carillons as well as a replica of the Liberty Bell, America’s most famous bell.

Replicas of the Liberty Bell are on display throughout Pennsylvania as part of Bells Across PA, one of the many efforts marking this milestone in the nation’s history.

Each of the state’s 67 counties has one of these artist-decorated bells reflecting local history and culture. Carbon County’s bell is Weissport, while Tamaqua is home to Schuylkill County’s bell.

In addition, the National Bell Festival is encouraging churches, cathedrals, community organizations, historic structures, national parks and memorials that have bells to ring them at 2:50 p.m. Eastern time.

Sterling planned to come to the cemetery for noon on July 4, open the chapel, which now serves as the cemetery’s columbarium, and ring the bell in celebration of America’s birthday, he said.

And he’s hoping to have the knack it takes to coordinate pulling of the rope to release the bell’s full arc and allow her to sing for Independence Day, and association members did do a test, he said.

“Fingers were crossed after all these years that it’d work, but we got it going,” Sterling said.

Kevin Meckes of KM Tree Service & Landscaping, who did other work at the cemetery, helped the association free the bell this year, Sterling said.

Memorial Day

The cemetery association is also preparing for special Memorial Day service, as the cemetery was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places, Sterling said.

Approximately 250 veterans, some dating back to the War of 1812, are buried in the cemetery, which had its earliest burials around 1820, Sterling said.

The Memorial Day program will begin Monday at 9 a.m. The American Legion will lead the ceremony, which will include the reciting of the “Gettysburg Address” and “In Flanders Fields” followed by a gun salute, he said.

State Rep. Doyle Heffley will also be on hand to give remarks, he said, and Sterling also plans to speak about the historic designation for the Victorian cemetery.

A historical marker now stands at the front gates, in front of the chapel commissioned by Mary Packer Cummings, daughter of industrialist Asa Packer, who rests in the family plot in the cemetery.