Historians Ask Doylestown To "Let Freedom Ring" On The Fourth

DOYLESTOWN, PA - The Doylestown Historical Society continues its celebration of USA 250 with a town-wide bell ringing on Saturday, July 4, at Noon.

“Whether you’re at home, at work, at church, or gathered with friends and family, help us fill the air with the sound of freedom,” said the historians. “Wherever you are, be part of history. Ring a bell for America.”

The event is part of the local historians' celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.

On Thursday, a large crowd gathered inside Covenant Church in Doylestown to honor the nation’s 250th birthday with a band concert by the Doylestown Heat, birthday cake, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and lots more.

Reading from the Declaration of Independence are, from left, Doylestown Mayor Noni West, State Rep. Tim Brennan, Doylestown Township Supervisor Jennifer Herring, and State Senator Steve Santarsiero.

Attendees were invited to sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence. (Doylestown Historical Society)

Everyone in attendance at the event enjoyed a piece of birthday cake. (Doylestown Historical Society)

The ongoing celebration began last October with a kickoff that brought Benjamin Franklin to town, followed by a multitude of “revolutionary” events in and around Doylestown.

The list includes: a solemn Veteran’s Day memorial; an Historic Church Tour; visits by George Washington, General W.W.H. Davis, and Betsy Ross; gustatory adventures with Colonial-era ale and oysters; presentations on the winter at Valley Forge; historical Bucks County deeds; and the Quaker Colonial experience; student historian contests and awards; and a trivia night, all of which have been heralded by costumed Town Criers and marked on a 2026 wall calendar picturing 13 local colonial sites.

But the party is only half over, and there are months of events yet to come, said the historians.

In the works for the rest of the year: a tour of the 1700s Castle Valley Mill; programs about The Colonial Brewer and the Revolutionary War in Montgomery and Bucks counties; Colonial and Early Doylestown walking tours; visits by Abigail Adams and Rachel Wall (a woman pirate); commemoration of Revolutionary War soldiers graves; and the premier of a documentary on the history of Doylestown at the County Theater.

As John Adams predicted, the independence and creation of this great nation "will be celebrated with pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other." The Doylestown area is doing its part, the historians said.

For a complete and current schedule, frequently visit the Doylestown Historical Society’s website at doylestownhistorical.org.

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