The Berks History Center will celebrate Berks County’s First 4th of July with the Vanderslice Family at a special reenactment event on July 8, 2017 at 11:00AM at the Berks History Center, located at 940 Centre Ave. Reading, PA 19601.
On July 8, 1776, Reading Sheriff Henry Vanderslice rang the Berks County Court House bell at high noon, calling the people of Reading together to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence. This was the first announcement to the people of Berks County that the American colonies were separate and independent from Great Britain. To commemorate this historic occasion, descendants of Henry Vanderslice and visitors will gather on July 8, 2017 to ring the Berks County Court House bell, now located in the lobby of the Berks History Center. Each descendant will ring the bell, signaling the reading of the Declaration of Independence, which will be reenacted by a Vanderslice descendant.
Members of the Color Guard of the Joseph Hiester Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution; the Berks County Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution; and members of the Conrad Weiser Society, Children of the American Revolution will also be present.
The Berks History Center and the Vanderslice family invite the general public to participate in this historic event. Admission to the program is $7.00 for non-members, $5.00 for seniors, $4.00 for children and free for members. The cost includes access to Berks History Center’s Museum exhibits where participants will have an opportunity to explore the treasures of Berks County’s extraordinary past. The museum will be open for self-guided tours from 9:00AM-2:00PM.
For more information, please call Alexis Campbell at 610-375-4375 or email [email protected].
