Ohio’s bicentennial bell rings in Canfield Fair
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CANFIELD -- The historic Mahoning County Ohio Bicentennial Bell will return to the fairgrounds for this year's fair, thanks to the efforts of Mahoning County Commissioner Geno DiFabio.
The bell actually had its start at the 2003 Canfield Fair when the state of Ohio's Bicentennial Commission was celebrating the state's bicentennial. As part of that celebration, the Verdin Company's mobile Foundry on Wheels was set up at the Canfield Fair to cast the county's bell.
Every one of Ohio's 88 counties had a visit from the mobile foundry from 2001 to October of 2003 to cast a bell for that celebration year.
At the 2003 fair, students from 14 county school districts participated in a public casting ceremony. The students helped place bronze in the furnace to make the bell. The bell was poured, cooled overnight, revealed and dedicated during the fair. Since that year, the bell had left the public eye until DiFabio was on a chat with other Ohio county commissioners.
"I was on the group chat when everyone started talking about where they were going to display their county bell," DiFabio said. "I didn't know anything about it, so I started asking about our bell."
He said it took two days to track down the Mahoning County bell. It was found at Mill Creek Park, displayed outside in the elements.
"I contacted the park and said I would like to have it back as it is a county relic," he said.
Arrangements were made, and a crew was sent to retrieve it. The bell was cleaned, and the bell stand was restored by a local company.
The bell was taken to the fairgrounds and will be featured at the Western Reserve Village. A special plaque will be made to go with the bell.
"The Fair Board had asked if they could display it for the Fourth of July and for the fair, so we moved it to the fairgrounds," DiFabio said. "I want everyone to enjoy the bell."
After the fair, he said the bell will be moved inside the Mahoning County Courthouse where it will remain on permanent display.