By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

Laura Kling shows her grandson David "D.J." Kling a book about his great-great-great-grandfather Joseph Benson Foraker, a former Ohio governor, in Kling's Liberty Township home. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

LIBERTY TWP. - Devon Serrentino doesn't mind moving her birthday party one day so she can help cast Butler County's bicentennial bell.

The 7-year-old Fairfield North Elementary School student is one of 40 children randomly selected to participate in the two-day process that begins with an ingot passing ceremony.

A bicentennial bell is being cast in each of Ohio's 88 counties as part of the state's 200th birthday celebration. Butler County has organized a festival around its two-day bell casting process, which culminates with a presentation of the bell to county commissioners, said Chuck Holliday, event coordinator for the Butler County Bicentennial Bell Casting and Festival Committee.

Cincinnati's Verdin Co. will bring a portable foundry to Lakota East High School to cast the county's bell. The 6- to 10-year-olds will form a line and pass brass ingots of a pound or less to foundry workers, who will melt about 500 pounds of metal in temperatures reaching 2,400 degrees.

The molten metal will be poured at 5 p.m. into a custom-made mold. At noon Saturday, a 16-pound sledgehammer will be used to break open the mold. The bell will be ground and polished until the presentation ceremony. World War II veteran Troy B. Elam, of Liberty Township, will be the first to ring it.

David "D.J." Kling will also participate in the ceremony. His great-great-great-grandfather, Joseph Benson Foraker, was Ohio's governor in 1885-1887, as well as a judge, Ohio senator and author.

"I wanted to do something important for the state. It's kind of cool," said D.J., 10, of Liberty Township.

In preparation for the event, D.J. and his grandmother, Laura Ellis Kling, have gotten out family mementos including handwritten speeches by Foraker, telegrams and pictures.

To volunteer, call Chuck Holliday at 863-6223.

Bell on tour

The bicentennial bell will remain in Liberty Township through July 19. It will move to Liberty Hall at the Butler County Fairgrounds during the July 20-26 fair. After that, community or government organizations may schedule the bell to come to their community. Sign up on the county Web site

Events schedule

Friday

11 a.m. Parade begins at Liberty Junior School.

1 p.m. Festival grounds open; car show begins.

2 p.m. Ingot-passing ceremony, Lakota East High School.

9 p.m. Ohio Fifth Light Artillery encampment with simulated artillery battle.

Saturday

7:15 a.m. Registration opens for 5K run. Race begins at 8 a.m.

8:30 a.m. Registration for custom/antique car show that runs from noon to 6 p.m.

Noon Bicentennial bell mold-breaking ceremony.

12:45 p.m. West Chester Symphony Concert, featuring the 1812 Overture with artillery firing.

5 p.m. Presentation of bicentennial bell to Butler County commissioners.