Tanner House carries on Independence Day tradition
Submitted by Aurora Historical Society
"Let's ring freedom bells!" said President John F. Kennedy when he established the National Independence Day Bell-Ringing Observance in 1963.
At that time, Congress set aside two minutes on the Fourth of July when citizens all across the country would simultaneously ring bells of all kinds.
The Aurora Historical Society has faithfully maintained that tradition, and will once again invite visiting children to pull the ropes on two historic bells on the lawn of the Tanner House Museum at Cedar and Oak streets in the historic west side Tanner District.
The nationwide observance takes place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 4, in the central time zone.
The bell-ringing is part of the annual Independence Day picnic at the museum, a free event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It features entertainment, a petting zoo, children's activities, a pie-eating contest, live music, tours of the 1857 Tanner House and traditional picnic fare available for a nominal charge.
"Many people walk over here after the parade to relax under our big shade trees and have a little lunch while enjoying the entertainment," said John Jaros, executive director of the Aurora Historical Society. "It's very inspiring when the children ring the bells, and it's very messy when the blueberry pies are brought out for the contest."
Video of a previous bell-ringing and a short science fiction story for children can be viewed at www.aurorahistory.net.