The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-12-28

PHILADELPHIA - UP -- The
Liberty Bell, symbol OF American
Freedom, apparently will go unpro-
tected for the duration OF the war
because OF wartime priorities.
An appeal TO the War Production
Board for the release OF necessary
materials to construct an under
ground fire-and-bomb-proof shelter
for the bell was turned down.
A second appeal TO the WPB has
not even been answered" accord
ing TO Mayor Bernard Samuel.
City officials condemned WPB
recommendations that the bell be
protected by sandbags or a con
crete niche built in Independence
Hall where the bell stands as I'm
practical and unworthy OF consin
Grafton. They expressed the opin
ion that a nationa. shrine should
have more than sandbags for pro
lection.
Material on Hand
George Wharton Pepper, Jr., the
architect who designed the under
etNHhN 'ouAA AOi AlAO l4lutll " bSAl
added that the WPB had refused
priority ratings to the project even
though 1t was TO be built Of scrap
material already on hand.
THE York Safe and Lock Co
which would have built the vault,
had the necessary material" he
said.
Pepper explained that II board
approval ever Is obtaino the
vault will be constructed under the
site where the bell now stands fac
ing the south entrance OF Independ
ence Hall.
Removing the bell to the vault
in the event of an emergency would
be simple" he said. The bell and
its original black walnut frame and
standard rest on a platform eleva-
tor that could be lowered into the
ground.
Would Slide on Tracks
"As the bell descended a section
OF concrete flooring would slide
over the shaft-opening sealing II
from the upper levels. When the
bell reached the bottom of the
shaft, it would slide over under
ground tracks into the vault under
the room in which the Declaration
OF independence was signed"
Sixteen inches OF concrete and
steel would then protect the Liber-
~ Bell against anything except the
heaviest bomb hits" Pepper said.
The cost of building the vault
had been presented to the City of
Philadelphia by the Insurance
Company OF North America IN
commemoration of its l50th ami.
versary.
At the presentation ceremony,
John A. Demand. president OF the
company, said, This historic bell
is rich heritage left to Americans
to safeguard sacredly. There is i'm
mediate necessity to protect prop.
erly this most sacred of all relics o.
our nations early struggle for free
dom. We feel that no amount of
sympathy or explanation could
ever compensate the American peo-
pie for any damage to this out
standing symbol of American free
dom and liberty"
Been Moved But Once
Should enemy air raids force the
moving OF the Liberty Bell, 1t
would be only the second time in
the nations history that such
step was made necessary.
During the Revolutionary War,
on Sept. IS, 1775 when the British
army was about to occupy Phila-
delphia, the Liberty Bell was re-
moved from the State House and
taken TO Allentown. Pa. 1t was
hidden in lions Church there until
June 81, 177s, when it was return.
ed to Philadelphia and rehung in
the tower Of independence Hall.
The bell remained in the tower
until September, 1885. when it
cracked while tolling a requiem for
the funeral of Chief Justice John