We’re celebrating Lebanon County’s role in American history. Read more here.
Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Lebanon chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will dedicate a commemorative marker June 14 honoring the church’s role in announcing American independence 250 years ago.
The marker, installed near the Willow Street gate of the historic church complex at 119 N. Eighth St., recognizes a long-held tradition that a bell cast in London in 1770 for the German Lutheran congregation was tolled on July 8, 1776, to proclaim independence to Lebanon’s residents.
The dedication ceremony will follow a 9 a.m. worship service in Old Salem, the limestone church building dating to the late 1790s. A luncheon in Richwine Fellowship Hall will follow the dedication.
Salem Lutheran, founded in 1760, is recognized alongside Tabor United Church of Christ as one of Lebanon’s oldest congregations. George Steitz, who founded the borough in the 1750s, deeded the land on which the church stands.
The congregation’s original building was a log cabin constructed in 1766. Members ordered a bell from England not long after, and it served not only to call worshippers but also to alert residents to fires and community meetings.
The church complex, which includes Old Salem, the High Victorian Gothic Schmauk Memorial Chapel built in 1898 and the modern Richwine Fellowship Hall, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
Questions about this story? Suggestions for a future LebTown article? Reach our newsroom using this contact form and we’ll do our best to get back to you.
Support Lebanon County journalism.
Cancel anytime.
Monthly Subscription
🌟 Annual Subscription
- Still no paywall!
- Fewer ads
- Exclusive events and emails
- All monthly benefits
- Most popular option
- Make a bigger impact
Already a member? Log in here to hide these messages
An informed community is a stronger community. LebTown covers the local government meetings, breaking news, and community stories that shape Lebanon County’s future. Help us expand our coverage by becoming a monthly or annual member, or support our work with a one-time contribution. Cancel anytime.
