Pike County's Bicentennial Bell
Pike County's Ohio Bicentennial Bell
Residents from Beaver and other community's through-out Pike County attended two special ceremonies during the 17th Annual (2001) Beaver Oktoberfest to ring in the state's bicentennial year. They witnessed history over the weekend as the Verlin Company fabricated the Ohio Bicentennial Bell for Pike County.
Construction of the fifth bell of its kind to be created by the Verlin Company for all 88 counties in the state will begin as the mold is poured on Saturday. The Beaver Oktoberfest had the privilege of hosting the Verdin Company of Cincinnati in pouring 250 pounds of 2,220 degree molten bronze in a special made bell mold in preparation of making the Bicentennial Bell at the festival.
The following day the bell's mold was broken with a sledgehammer by Pike County EMS Director, Roger Scaggs.
Then the bell was polished. The second day Jim & Grace Pennington, 2001 Beaver Oktoberfest Citizens of the year rang the bell for the first time.
Teachers, churches and community gatherings used a variety of bells in earlier time to notify the community residents.
After ringing of the bell it was moved to the Beaver Post Office for the school children in the area to view and they had a chance ring the bell.
Later Pike County's Bicentennial Bell was moved to the new Pike County Government Center in Waverly, Ohio for the public to view.
Waverly News Watchman
October 2001
Copyright © 2003
Pike Co. Genealogy Society a Chapter of O.G.S.
P. O. Box 224, Waverly, Ohio 45690