America250PA has unveiled 22 artist-designed fiberglass replica Liberty Bells that will be installed throughout Philadelphia neighborhoods, including three in the Northeast.
Bells Across PA is a statewide public art initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. There will be at least one bell in all 67 counties.
In Philadelphia, the 22 bells were created by artists affiliated with Mural Arts Philadelphia.
Sponsors include the Bellwether District and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, whose CEO, Oxford Circle native Dr. Jay Feldstein, attended the Jan. 16 event unveiling the bells and recalled going on a class trip at Spruance Elementary School to see the Liberty Bell.
Speakers at the event, which took place at a School District of Philadelphia warehouse at 1450 W. Olney Ave., included Mayor Cherelle Parker; Cassandra Coleman, executive director of America250PA; Kathryn Ott Lovell, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation and Philadelphia250; and Jane Golden, founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia.
“These bells may not ring, but they are far from silent,” Coleman said.
Parker said the bells will inspire pride in Philadelphians.
“This is what I call One Philly in action,” she said.
Lovell and Golden credited community leaders for offering ideas for bell designs.
“Thank you for the work you put into this,” Lovell said.
“It’s something beautiful created in partnership with communities,” Golden said.
Others on hand included state Rep. Jared Solomon, election commissioners Lisa Deeley and Seth Bluestein, former Gov. Mark Schweiker and Michael Newmuis, director of Philadelphia 2026.
Local bells will be placed on Oxford Avenue in Fox Chase, Frankford Avenue in Mayfair and at Glen Foerd in East Torresdale. They are expected to be in place by early April.
The Fox Chase bell, Heartbeat of the Fox, was designed by Sean Martorana. Representing the community at the unveiling were Ray Neas, president of the Rockledge Fox Chase Business Association and vice president of the Univest Bank at 401 Rhawn St., and Theresa Guldin, business association board member and vice president at the Tompkins Bank at 8000 Verree Road.
The Fox Chase bell will be placed at Lions Park, 7964 Oxford Ave. It includes a fox, deer and duck in a playful “Chase” around the bell, along with images of Ryerss Museum arches and other neighborhood architecture, trees, waterways and Lenape.
The Mayfair bell, Celebrate Mayfair, was designed by Alana Bogard and painted by Madeleine Smith. Mayfair Business Improvement District executive director Donny Smith was in attendance and said the bell will be placed on Frankford Avenue near Tudor Street, along with an existing “Greetings from Mayfair” banner and a Seward Johnson Atelier statue of Abraham Lincoln that will be installed.
The colorful Mayfair bell includes images of Chickie’s & Pete’s, Stein’s Florist, Mayfair Diner, Twistee Treat, the Philly Pretzel Factory and the Celebration Statue that stands at Frankford and Cottman. Wording on the bell includes, “Shop Mayfair” and, “King’s Highway,” the original name for Frankford Avenue.
The Glen Foerd bell, Nature to Industry to Nature Again, was designed by Bob Dix. Joining him at the unveiling were Glen Foerd’s Tina Acuna, development and marketing manager, and April Foster, arts and culture coordinator.
The Glen Foerd bell will be placed near the boathouse. It includes images of former residents from the Foerderer and Macalester families; area industrialists Matthias Baldwin, Frank Shuman and Henry Disston; the Poquessing Creek and Delaware River; boats; fish; mice; Canada geese; the mansion, gazebo and deer and dog statues; native plants; Lenape; and a gem, as Dix considers Glen Foerd to be a “hidden gem.” ••
