Mr. Karl Mickley, whose ancestors aided in the rescue of the Liberty Bell in 1777, shared with me the book "The Liberty Bell in Allentown," printed in connection with the 150th anniversary of bringing the bell to Allentown.

Did you know? Bethlehem was considered as a place for the meeting of the Continental Congress and General Washington was thinking about bringing his Army into the Lehigh Valley for winter quarters. The great general sent Baron de Kalb to Bethlehem with a corp of French engineers to survey the landscape for constructing possible fortications.

When the baggage train of the Army deposited supplies for the Army in Allentown and Bethlehem, among them were the bells of Philadelphia, including the Liberty Bell. After the Battle of Germantown, the Army decided to camp at Valley Forge.

Over 3,000 wagons were used to evacuate supplies, women and children from Philadelphia. Three hundred of the wagons were directed by Conrad Kreider of Allen Township.

James Allen, proprietor of Allentown and son of the chief justice, was residing in Trout Hall, now a historic treasure under the supervision of the Lehigh County Historical Society. Allen kept a diary detailing the historic events of the Revolutionary period saying, "The road from Easton to Reading by my house is now the most traveled street in America."

As a home for the Liberty Bell in 1777, Allentown and the bell became interwinded in our history. The Zion Church Shrine today continues to preserve the heritage.

The Liberty Bell was exhibited at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. The Daughters of the American Revolution Liberty Bell Chapter was able to have the bell travel through Allentown for the last time. The car containing the bell was switched to the trolley tracks and brought up Hamilton Street as far as Eleventh Street. It stopped for a time in front of Zion Church for a memorial service.

The parade was probably the largest witnessed up to that time. It was composed of military and civic organizations, fire companies and carriages.

Besides, Jacob Mickley who helped rescue the bell in 1777, another ancestor who played a role in the World's Fair Exposition was Miss Minnie F. Mickley, daughter of Edwin Mickley who was a Civil War veteran and former engineer for the Thomas Iron Company in Hokendauqua. The former Whitehall resident was a graduate of Elmira College.

She represented Pennsylvania and served as secretary for the general committee of the World's Fair which was composed of delegates from many world nations. Miss Mickley resided in Washington, D.C., and served as regent for the Daughter's of the American Revolution.

Her career was highlighted when the DAR met both Presidents Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland in the White House presidents, I'm sure, many of our students never heard of!!

The dedicated historian passed away in 1931 and rests in the Mickley's Cemetery. I thank Mr. Mickley for sharing this interesting chapter of history with us and also Mr. Larry Oberly for all his assistance.

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Much more in two weeks, stay tuned!