It may not be as big as the original Liberty Bell, but the message is just as powerful. In New Holland, they've always let freedom ring.

"I think all of the board members, our museum docents and volunteers believe that history is instructive, it helps unite us and it gives us an appreciation for those who have gone before us to make our community a vibrant and enjoyable place to live," said Mike Ressler, who's been the chairman of the New Holland Area Historical Society (NHAHS) for 10 years. "We learn from our own and others' mistakes, as well as from the success and triumphs. Understanding our history enables us to know where we have come from, and knowing that will help predict where we are headed."

Located at 207 E. Main St., New Holland, the NHAHS museum's newest exhibit features a smaller but exact replica of the famous Liberty Bell, one that's just about as historically significant to the ELANCO area. The Liberty Bell replica was donated to NHAHS by M&T Bank on March 16 of this year, after it had been commissioned to be built by New Holland Farmers National Bank in 1973 to commemorate America's bicentennial.

The replica of the Liberty Bell can be viewed during the NHAHS museum's regular hours of operation, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The bell can also be viewed by special appointment, which can be set up by calling 717-354-2049.

"We have a great heritage here," said Ressler. "We are encouraging people - adults, kids, families - to visit the museum and ring the bell. It doesn't have the big, booming, resonate sound that the original must have had to be heard all over Philadelphia, but it has a loud and piercing sound that gets people's attention. It sounds like a high-quality ship's bell."

The original Liberty Bell measures about three feet and three inches from the top of its crown to the bottom lip, while New Holland's replica is about half that length. Both bells are made of bronze, while the original Liberty Bell weighs about 2,080 pounds and the replica checks in at about one-fourth of that total.

"Nearly every detail of the original bell was included in the replica, including the names of the makers, the Scripture passage from Leviticus, and, of course, the famous and iconic crack," said Ressler. "During the bicentennial, the (replica) bell did a lot of traveling. It visited every elementary school in the Eastern Lancaster County School District, as well as Garden Spot High School. It was used by the New Holland Band during the bicentennial performance of John Philip Sousa's famous march, 'Liberty Bell.'"

"Then it returned to the New Holland Farmers National Bank, where it was on display," continued Ressler. "Sadly, it remained silent but stayed in the bank even as the bank changed ownership and names several times. That silence ended this past July when the New Holland Band again featured it in Sousa's great march."

The New Holland replica of the Liberty Bell is one of just hundreds of items housed and on display at NHAHS' museum.

"I don't have a count (on the exact number of items), but I can tell you we are just about busting at the seams," said Ressler, a resident of New Holland. "We are taking great care to only accept items and archival information - photographs, articles, books - that directly relate to New Holland and the surrounding area. With the things that we have, we can really tell the story of the people of our area.

"We are working hard to make sure more and more people discover the museum," continued Ressler. "One of the comments we often hear from visitors is 'I never knew this was here.' We have local people visit as well as folks from out of town."

For additional information, go to http://www.nhhistorical.com.