Last weekend was the Emmaus 250 Celebration. We were there with 2 bells-a-blazing. Here’s what went down.

Our Knights of Columbus Council was asked by the Emmaus Historical Society to bring one or more of the bells from the original St. Ann’s Church for display in front of the Historical Society Museum on Main Street during the Emmaus 250 event.  They wanted our bells because the medium bell had “been the biggest attraction” during the Society’s annual Heritage Festival last summer.  In addition, Grand Knight Xavier Faura and Jim Yergey had been discussing displaying one of the bells at Yergey’s Brewing Company.  

The bells were loaded on a flatbed trailer (belonging to Knight Eric Zwick) moved to the sites on Main Street, and set up for display by Deputy Grand Knight Angelo Tartaglia, Xavier, Fred Flemming, and Dave Kirby of the Bell Memorial Committee.  The 600 pound medium bell was again placed in the prime spot right in front of the Historical Society building.  The team hung it above its display stand so that it could be rung.  The 400 pound small bell was placed on its display stand in front of Yergey’s in an alcove in the outdoor seating area.  Various Knights and parishioners helped staff both sites all day.  All day, a lot of people  enjoyed ringing the medium bell and many read the poster about St. Ann Church and its bells.  

After the event was over, the bells were returned to the bus garage where they are being stored until the Bell Memorial is built.

The newscaster Kevin Zipay and his camera woman from Channel 69 WFMZ were present to do an on-site piece about Emmaus 250 for their 6:00 news program.  He immediately saw the potential to open the segment by ringing the bell. You can watch that segment by clicking this link: https://www.wfmz.com/emmaus-250-celebration-history-music-and-fun-bring-community-together-in-festival/video_99c0a96b-4e83-58ca-93c2-3ed63b282840.html