A Liberty Bell replica, decorated with drawings representing occupations, businesses and miscellaneous aspects of Schuylkill County, was unveiled during a program in front of the Tamaqua Railroad Station Restaurant, Wednesday evening.

The bell is part of America250PA’s Bells Across Pennsylvania project, which is a statewide art series featuring local artists.

The Tamaqua bell was painted by eighth grade art students at Tamaqua Area Middle School under the direction of teach Kim Woodward. Entitled “Freedom to Change,” the bell contains on its base the names of the 24 students who worked on the project.

The unveiling was performed by Woodward and her students, while scores of spectators applauded.

Micah Gursky, executive director of the Tamaqua Community Partnership, said the bell will be moved in several weeks to the newly constructed Liberty Tree Park, located across the street from the railroad station.

Liberty Tree Park has a tree that’s a descendant of the original Liberty Tree (1646–1775), which was a famous elm tree that stood in Boston near Boston Common in the years before the American Revolution.

Eric Zizelmann, a member of the Liberty Tree Park Committee, initially heard about the nationwide Liberty Tree project and applied for Tamaqua to receive one.

Gursky said of the committee’s work, “We didn’t just plant a tree. We built a whole park around it.”

The park was constructed at the site of a dilapidated house that was razed. Dedication of the park will occur July 4.

Ellie Bamford, one of the students who worked on the bell project, spoke at Thursday night’s program. She said it was a class effort. “We all worked on it,” she said. “We all did it together.”

In addition, a QR Code was placed on the pedestal so interested observers can obtain more information.

The bell has drawings representing the railroad industry, mining, garment industry, Mr. T’s Pierogies, Hope Coffee, Heisler’s and Leiby’s Ice Cream, Plain & Fancy Doughnuts, purple martin birds, kielbasa, local sports, and flowers to name a few of the icons.

Bamford said Woodward had a blueprint for the bell and every student came up with original ideas to add to it.

Various state, county, local and school officials attended the unveiling.

Woodward, a teacher for 27 years, recalled that when she was a student at Tamaqua, a teacher asked for volunteers to help save the abandoned and deteriorating railroad station. She volunteered. The station, originally built in 1874, has been completely remodeled, is an historical landmark and is an asset to the borough.

She said as individuals, “We don’t have to do something grand. We all can do little things.” She said those little things sometimes become big things.

As an analogy, she mentioned the “little brushes” the students used to paint the bell which will be a big attraction.

Gursky agreed. He recalled how a former gas station site was converted into what is now a gorgeous park through the efforts of volunteers.

“This project says something important about who we are,” said Mayor Dave Clemson.

He said the bell was created by “young people who took on the responsibility of telling the story of Schuylkill County.”

The mayor added, “A project like this happens only because teachers invest in their students.”

Larry Padora, Schuylkill County commissioner and America250PA county adviser, said, “We’re here to celebrate the history of this great country.”

“We must fight and remember always what our country stands for.”

Gursky introduced members of the Liberty Tree Park Committee. They are the Rev. Dillon Epler, Maureen Donovan, Marria O’Malley-Walsh, Delaney Renn, Mary Linkevich, Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt, Jay Stidham and Tony Odorizzi.