More than 150 locals and visitors watched last month as Sam Worley, a 103-year-old WWII veteran and former commissioner of Franklin County, joined 16-year-old Laine Hess, 2025 Franklin County Fair Queen, to unveil the Franklin County Bell Across PA.
After spending a week at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center, the Franklin County Bell traveled to Mercersburg Townfest to celebrate the annual festival and remember 275 years of Mercersburg. From Townfest, the Bell was transported to the Fendrick Library, 20 North Main St., in Mercersburg.
Fendrick Library is the historic Parker House, built in 1788 by Capt. Robert Parker, a veteran of the Revolutionary War and a member of General Washington’s staff. The Marquis de Lafayette befriended Parker; they fought together at the Battle of Brandywine.
The Franklin County Bell will remain at the Fendrick Library until Friday, Oct. 17. Then, it will return to the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center for AppleFest in downtown Chambersburg on Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Franklin County Bell moves to Tavern Night at Fort Loudoun on Oct. 25, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and returns to Fort Loudoun for Allegheny Uprising on Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bells Across PA pays tribute to the Liberty Bell, so important to both Pennsylvanians and Americans as an iconic symbol of freedom. Franklin County Visitors Bureau sponsored the Franklin County Bell and wishes to share the bell with as many people as possible, so the bell is moving to communities, businesses and organizations throughout Franklin County.
The Franklin County Bell, painted by local artist Andrea Finch, highlights the agriculture, history and scenic beauty of Frankin County as well as the townships and boroughs within the triangular-shaped county. Unifying the piece is a repetitive, circular crosshair design inspired by stonework, believed to be remnants from the 1864 Franklin County Courthouse, burned by Confederates after Chambersburg could not pay a ransom demand of $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in Yankee currency.
The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to experience the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg and Waynesboro. Franklin County is an easy drive from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. For more information, readers may visit ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com or contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 866-646-8060.
