DANVILLE – A group of 50 gathered Tuesday in Canal Park here to unveil Montour County’s liberty bell.

The America250PA committee is setting up a fiberglass Liberty Bells in each of the 67 of the commonwealth’s counties as part of the observance of next year’s 250th anniversary of American independence.

“Today's bell is specifically honoring Geisinger and honoring the impact of folks who wanted to give back to their community, and wanted to ensure that this community was left better than how they found it," said Cassandra Coleman, executive director of America250PA.

The artist

During the summer, Geisinger Medical Center reached out to Shamokin artist Dave Tamkus, owner of Tamkus Art and Design which led to several email exchanges and Zoom, resulting in a design. 

When he got the bell, he realized his designs did not accommodate the flat top of the bell, posing a challenge.

“I was like, there’s a big old flat spot at the top. So then it was coming up, and they trusted me enough and just said, ‘go ahead’, do whatever you want,” Tamkus said.

He put a butterfly on top and included the outlines of Danville and Montour County on the back of the bell, with Pennsylvania featured on the other side, to unify the project, he said.

The bell

The main art in back features children of different abilities and backgrounds coming together, then the front of the bell features the Children's Hospital symbol —the sun which is all about light shining in the darkness,” said Nancy Lawton-Kluck, chief philanthropy officer at Geisinger.

“The top is the butterflies, the symbol of peace and happiness,” Lawton-Kluck said. “I think the recurring themes are community, people coming together, creating a greater good, and celebrating milestones,” Lawton-Kluck said.

The unveiling also celebrates Geisinger's 110 years, the Children's Hospital's 30 years, as well as the U.S. semiquincentennial.

Abigail Geisinger

During the unveiling ceremony, the crowd heard speakers including Commissioner Rebecca Dressler and State Representative Joe Stender, R-Danville.

Dressler delivered a history of Abigail Geisinger, who founded the George F. Geisinger Memorial Hospital in 1915 to provide quality healthcare to rural communities.

Abigail’s legacy is deeply rooted in Danville, where her ancestors settled. Her husband, George F. Geisinger, was a prominent figure in the local iron works, and their story reflects the spirit of community service and innovation, Dressler said.

“So, as we unveil this Liberty Bell — a symbol of freedom, progress, and shared purpose — it feels right that it stands here in Canal Park for now, just steps from where Abigail Geisinger’s story began. When it moves to the Geisinger campus, it will do so as both a tribute and a reminder: that one person’s vision, rooted in love of community, can truly change the world," Dressler said.

The bell will be on display until the end of 2026. Afterward, Montour County’s bell will be taken away for display at the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.

By Christmas, all 67 counties will have their bells installed. There will be a map on www.america250pa.org in January showing the location of each of the bells across the state are.

Drew Mumich covers Danville, Riverside and Montour County. He can be reached at 570-387-1234 ext. 1343.