In anticipation of the United States’ 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, America250PA and the Pennsylvania Freemasons have partnered to plant a Liberty Tree in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties between 2021 and 2026.
In the early — and quite sunny — afternoon on Saturday, Oct. 19, America250PA Lebanon and the Pennsylvania Freemasons planted Lebanon County’s certified Liberty Tree at Cornwall Iron Furnace, 94 Rexmont Road, Cornwall.
What’s a Liberty Tree?
The concept of the Liberty Tree dates back to the American Revolutionary War.
In the midst of the war, colonists would gather at the original Liberty Tree in Boston, Massachusetts, and under its shade express their resistance to British rule over the colonies.
Then, during the Siege of Boston, the British destroyed the original Liberty Tree, which had become a symbol of freedom to the colonists.
The colonists responded by designating trees throughout the 13 colonies as Liberty Trees — the last known of which was at St. John’s University in Annapolis, Maryland, until Hurricane Floyd destroyed it in 1999.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, landscaper Mark Mehnert rescued and propagated parts of the last known Liberty Tree from the time of the American Revolutionary War.
Since then, direct descendants of this Liberty Tree have been planted throughout Pennsylvania and the United States, continuing this historic symbol of American freedom. One of its direct descendants was planted Saturday at Cornwall Iron Furnace.
Lebanon County’s Liberty Tree
Following a photo session with Lebanon County’s certified Liberty Tree, a ceremony opened with a presentation of the colors, a group recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, a singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” a recitation of John Jay Daly’s “A Toast to the Flag,” and an opening prayer.
Christian Cassidy-Amstutz, strategic initiatives and grants manager for America250PA, emceed the ceremony for the tree with historical roots.
Formally known as the Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, America250PA is an organization created by former Gov. Tom Wolf and the Legislature in 2018 to celebrate the country’s founding and the state’s role in it leading up to 2026.
State Rep. John Schlegel then took to the podium: “There’s so much involved in today’s ceremony, the history of our country as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary in 2026. The Masons are here. And certainly, a big part of our history, the fact that one George Washington had once been here. That’s pretty sacred and pretty special if you ask me. It just gives me chills talking about it.
“And along with that, the dedication of part of the Liberty Tree, which was so much a part of the symbol to spur on the colonists and the patriots who fought for our independence, in part fueled by the munitions supplied by so many miners that worked here at the Cornwall Iron Furnace.”
Schlegel also presented Josie Ames, wife of late Lebanon County Commissioner Bill Ames, with a proclamation dedicating the Liberty Tree to his memory on behalf of his colleagues – one of whom, state Rep. Russ Diamond, was in attendance at the ceremony.
Read More: County Commissioner Bill Ames succumbs to COVID-19 complications
Ames described her late husband as “a great patriot” who loved the county and the country, and she wanted to honor him with the planting of Lebanon County’s certified Liberty Tree, which serves as a symbol of American freedom.
Ames contributed $2,000 as a local buy-in for the tree. The entire cost of the Liberty Tree has not been confirmed, but a press release claims that half of the funding came from the Pennsylvania Freemasons and the other half from Ames, who serves as committee chair for America250PA Lebanon.
During the ceremony, Michael Emery, site administrator for Cornwall Iron Furnace, spoke to the reasons behind the site — which is the sole surviving cold-blast iron furnace in North America — being selected as the location for the county’s designated Liberty Tree.
Cornwall Iron Furnace produced munitions for various wars, including the Revolutionary War. Following owners Curtis Grubb and Peter Grubb Jr.’s enlistment as colonels in the Lancaster County militia in 1776, Cornwall Iron Furnace cast and shipped three-and-a-half dozen cannons that each fired 12-pound cannon balls from 1776 to 1777.
“This was the home of American patriots who put everything that they had on the line for the cause of liberty and freedom,” Emery said.
“And I certainly do thank all of you for coming here today, and I hope that someday our children and grandchildren will be able to be under the shade of this tree and remember not only the services that we had here today but the services of our forefathers who thought so much of us that they gave their time, blood, and treasure so that we could be here today.”
Following Emery’s speech, Cassidy-Amstutz presented a certificate of authenticity for Lebanon County’s Liberty Tree to Ronald B. Carson, district deputy grand master for Masonic District 1.
Carson spoke about the historical relevance of the Pennsylvania Freemasons and ultimately mentioning one well-known Freemason: George Washington, who joined the organization in Virginia in 1752.
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