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A statewide program to hand-cast bicentennial bells is helping the Buckeye State celebrate it history.
Ohio's Bicentennial celebration rang into action this spring as The Bicentennial Commission and the Verdin Company of Cincinnati embarked on a 41-county tour, stopping to hand cast a 250-pound Bicentennial Bell in each. The year 2003 will mark the 200th birthday of the founding place of aviation and Ohioans are throwing their state quite a party. The months leading up to the Bicentennial are filled with a number of projects and events including a barn-painting project, the honoring of African-American Civil War veterans, the 200th anniversary of the historic Clifton Mill, and the bell casting tour.
The ambitious bell casting project began in April in Adams County-Manchester and will wind down in October at the Harrison County-Jewett celebration. Counties not featured in this year's project can expect to be included in the 2003 tour. At each site, every part of the four-step bell casting process is performed and will involve the community. Step one is adding the ingots. Each bell requires approximately twelve, 40-pound bronze ingots. Members of the community are involved...