page_title: High German Evangelical Reformed Church
hierarchical_section_title: High German Evangelical Reformed Church
caption_attribution_description: English: High German Evangelical Reformed Church (aka Zion United Methodist Church) on the NRHP since July 28, 1983. At 620 Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Housed the Liberty Bell in 1777, which was being hidden from the British who were expected to melt it down for cannon. Current building incorporates 2 18th century buildings and doubled in size around 1888. Thus the Gothic Revival entrance has little to do with the Liberty Bell
context_page_description: High German Evangelical Reformed Church, also known as Zion Reformed and Zion United Church of Christ, is a historic Evangelical and Reformed church at 620 Hamilton Street in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
  A log structure was built on the site in 1762. A simple brick church, said to be in the vernacular Federal style, was built a few yards north of the log church in 1773. In 1777, while the British occupied Philadelphia, this church was used to hide the Liberty Bell as well as the chimes from Philadelphia's Christ Church. This clandestine act of patriotism prevented the British from melting down these treasures for use as ammunition. In 1838 the church was enlarged and may have incorporated the 1762 structure into the building, inside the walls of the current boiler room. The building was doubled in size in from 1886 to 1888 in the Gothic Revival style, to the designs of architect Lewis Jacoby.
  It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The Liberty Bell Museum, a local attraction commemorating the hiding of the Liberty Bell, is located inside the church.
context_section_description: High German Evangelical Reformed Church, also known as Zion Reformed and Zion United Church of Christ, is a historic Evangelical and Reformed church at 620 Hamilton Street in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
  A log structure was built on the site in 1762.  A simple brick church, said to be in the vernacular Federal style,  was built a few yards north of the log church in 1773. In 1777, while the British occupied Philadelphia, this church was used to hide the Liberty Bell as well as the chimes from Philadelphia's Christ Church. This clandestine act of patriotism prevented the British from melting down these treasures for use as ammunition. In 1838 the church was enlarged and may have incorporated the 1762 structure into the building, inside the walls of the current boiler  room.  The building was doubled in size in from 1886 to 1888 in the Gothic Revival style, to the designs of architect Lewis Jacoby.
  It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The Liberty Bell Museum, a local attraction commemorating the hiding of the Liberty Bell, is located inside the church.
caption: Zion United Church of Christ, October 2011
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