illinois freedom bell located illinois united_states official freedom bell state illinois bell created church wisconsin replica moved frozen following fire church ice cracked bell sank lake salvaged village acquired annual let freedom ring festival found beneath village square bell credited starting independence day bell ringing tradition united_states bell designated official illinois freedom bell history origin located illinois cast replica following casting bell transported wisconsin kept church north shore church destroyed fire bell fell fire undamaged following fire bell storage church members decided reconstruct church south lake winter group men attempted drag bell frozen lake weight bell cracked ice sank bell remained submerged years wealthy resident decided surface bell resident located bell surfaced great difficulty intent making future illinois freedom bell focal point new home bell salvaged decided suit purposes young farmer purchased bell kept storage article published bell geneva lake article interested people illinois sent members fourth july committee investigate bell people decided purchase bell committee formed obtained loan mount morris group collected donations local residents purchase bell july hung current location writers suggested bell ringing annual independence day ceremony hand dedication years later bell designated illinois governor plaque added tower july inscription governor reads festival february issue week contained article freedom ring written connecticut writers article suggested july bells country ring minutes radio stations broadcast ringing minutes readers country took advice magazine editor contacted local officials support nationwide bell ringing concurrently resolution proposed congress connecticut senator called ringing bells nationwide july eastern daylight time bill passed senate house_of_representatives later year village decided hold bell ringing village annual independence day festival let freedom ring subsequently april illinois native rising republican political star ronald_reagan visited freedom bell hangs freedom bell small inch bell later president reagan presented replica official representative national bell ringing took place july participated ringing states sponsored bell credited making suggestion reality annually utc independence day july bells united_states thousands people gather village hear bell year independence day annual event known let freedom ring festival festival bell ringing attended notable individuals future illinois governor member commission attended festival bell ringing year later noted abraham_lincoln appeared festival speak lincoln times let freedom ring festival broadcast nationally festival governor speaker bell ringing address transmitted telephone illinois pavilion new york world fair bell ringing broadcast public address system field chicago years committee festival requested bell ringing illinois celebrations allowed let freedom ring celebration hosts freedom run arts crafts parade fireworks display highlighted ringing description silver color cast bronze metal feet tall feet wide weight pounds bell housed foot wooden tower stands prominent position town square
Illinois Freedom Bell