Caledonian Record Article: History Center’s Birthday Party For America Featuring Family Connection To Liberty Bell

Son Of Center’s Founder A Park Ranger In Philadelphia Who Will Share Knowledge About Bell As Part Of Festivities

by Dana Gray (article here)

ST. JOHNSBURY — Festivities at the History & Heritage Center on Monday in celebration of America’s 250th birthday will include a Liberty Bell talk from the son of the center’s founder, who is a park ranger in Philadelphia.

Thomas Daniels, a 1994 graduate of Blue Mountain Union who grew up in Ryegate, is a National Park Service ranger who has been educating visitors about American history at Independence Hall in Philadelphia for 25 years. He’s also the son of Peggy Pearl, the woman whose leadership established the History & Heritage Center on Summer Street in St. Johnsbury.

Daniels’ expertise about the Liberty Bell makes him a logical choice to be part of a celebration focused on the country turning 250 this year, but it’s the family connection that made his appearance possible here. The timing was right, as Daniels had planned to visit his family this week.

Perhaps with a motherly bias, or maybe because her heart and mind are so dialed into preserving history, Pearl said that guests at the party on Monday who hear from her son will benefit from the time.

“He’s spent twenty-five years with that bell,” she said.

This will be Daniel’s first time presenting at the History & Heritage Center, but Pearl said she’s seen him in action in Philadelphia.

“He’s passionate, and you know it,” she said.

Pearl said she recalled attending one of his talks, and afterward, when guests had a chance to speak one-on-one with Daniels, one man communicated how much he had learned from Daniels’ talk.

“This fellow came up to him and (the man) says, ‘Where the hell were you when I was learning history?’” Pearl said.

Daniels credits his mother, father and grandfather William Pearl for instilling in him an appreciation for history.

Prior to his work in Philadelphia, Daniels worked for the park service educating visitors about Civil War history at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg.

The celebration at the History & Heritage Center on Monday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. will include several activities in addition to Daniels’ talk, including games, a St. Johnsbury Band concert, face painting and tours of exhibits inside the house, the carriage barn and the year-old exhibit hall, which is named in Pearl’s honor.

Pearl recently stepped down as director of the history center, so there will be a moment of recognition for her and an introduction of the new director, Emily Demers.

Pearl said her remarks during the event will credit a team of people who have made the History & Heritage Center a reality.

“I’m certainly going to honor those who have gotten behind this so-called leader and made this a happening thing,” she said. “It still just amazes me what people can do.”

Daniels said he is impressed with what the center has become.

“I think it’s amazing. I think they’ve done a fantastic job there,” he said.

Unlike his mother, who tries to deflect attention from her role in establishing the center, Daniels said Pearl deserves praise for her efforts.

“I think she’s done a remarkable thing in getting History and Heritage from nothing to what it is today,” he said. “I know she did it as part of a team, but she certainly deserves a lot of credit for helping get it and getting it organized.”