Somerville Historic Advisory Committee

For those looking for a qwiki review of Revolution 101 and a look at life in the county 250 years ago: Check out Somerset County Historical Societiywebsite for their special Semiquin. Newsletter. Somersethistorynj.org

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Sure enough! and about time!!!

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Zooming in to the font page of the 1876 issue of the local newspaper, reveals that the Liberty Bell shape is made up of the text of the Declaration of Independence! Very clever, but not all of it fit! So, it was continued below including signatures. Around the border are quotes from prominent individuals, some we recognize easily as historical names: John Adams, Patrick Hentry, Danial Webster. Others were famous orators or politicians familiar to late Victorian audiences, but for us, requires a Wikopedia dive. On top of the Liberty Bell itself is one stanza of a song commissioned for the opening day of the Centinel Exposition in Philadelphia, which opened on July 1. Written by John Greeleaf Whittier, who some may remember as an American poet from high school English Lit., it was set to music for organ and chorus. It never made the top 40, but you can read it online at https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/centennial-hymn/. The people of Somerset County were reading it as the great exposition opened. The fair was as popular and well-attended as the 1939 and 1964 New York World’s Fairs of the Future would be. It was a celebration of American pride and technical achievements, meant to inspire people and promote unity in the aftermath of the Civil War, whose repercussions were still rattling national politics. At the fair, one could see the actual Liberty Bell and an original copy of the Declaration. People locally were excited enough about it to think that a local celebration should be planned for those who might be unable to get to Phily for the opening. So, they did.