The Village of Brookfield issued a proclamation June 22 honoring the 50th anniversary of the community’s replica Liberty Bell, which arrived in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration.
The bell was cast by the same London foundry that created the original Liberty Bell in 1752.
Community fundraising — through the sale of commemorative decals and bumper stickers — raised $14,300 for the bell itself. An additional $15,000 was raised to construct a concrete foundation and pavilion in Kiwanis Park, just east of the village hall.
The bell was dedicated on July 4, 1976, during a ceremony led by U.S. Congressman Ed Derwinski.
The village will rededicate the bell at 11:30 a.m. July 4, 2026, as the Independence Day parade ends and before the party in the park begins.
President Michael Garvey, who attended the original dedication, said the rededication will mark both the nation’s 250th anniversary and the community’s commitment to the monument.