Boalsburg Columbus Ball, Oct 10,
2009, Celebrates Boalsburg's Unique Columbus Connection
(this is the 2008 text. 2009 to follow later)
The streets of Boalsburg were laid out in October 1808 and for 200 years
the shape of the village has fostered a sense of community among
residents and visitors alike. Accordingly, on Saturday, October 11,
2008, Boalsburg will celebrate its 200th birthday with a
free community birthday party on those same streets in the afternoon
and a fancy benefit ball in the evening at the Boal Mansion. The
eighth and ninth generation of the historic Boal family will be at the
evening ball to welcome guests. The general public is invited to
attend both events.
Historic persons from Boalsburg’s rich history will appear at the ball,
including the pioneer David Boal portrayed by his descendant
Pittsburgh broadcaster Alan Boal, the three ladies who started
Memorial Day in 1864 portrayed by members of Battery B, a Civil War
re-enactment group, and Judge George Boal, one of Penn State
University’s founders, portrayed by national television actor Charles
Dumas.
Boalsburg 200th Birthday Ball at the Boal Mansion will feature
line dancing to Bruce Young’s group, fine food and champagne. The Ball
is open to the public. Tickets are $75 each and will help defray the
cost of Boalsburg 200th publications and activities as well
as historic preservation. A television set up in the 1798 library
will carry the Penn-State Wisconsin football game at 8 pm for football
fans at the ball.
For
further information and a full calendar of Boalsburg 200th Birthday
activities access
http://boalmuseum.com/ To get involved, contact Boalsburg
200th Chairman Christopher Lee at 814-466-9266 or
chris@boalmuseum.com.
Guests at the October 11th Ball will sip champagne and taste fine
hors d'oeuvres from area restaurants in the Boal Mansion's dining room
and dance in the elegant ballroom surrounded by portraits and
memorabilia from the Boals of Boalsburg.
Photo above: Guests at the Boalsburg Columbus Ball enjoy
contra-dancing maneuvers under the watchful tutelage of Bruce Young
(in back with microphone) and his band.
Below left:
Pioneer David Boal in 1789 portrayed by his descendant, Pittsburgh
broadcaster Alan Boal.
Below right: Christopher Columbus speaks! (Portrayed by Bruce
Young, musician, in the Boal Mansion ballroom).
Most Ball guests will be wearing the fashions of today, whether formal
or business, while some will attend in Civil War or turn-of-the-century
dress. A photographer will take portrait pictures of
guests in 1798 parlor and the event will feature first-person speaking
appearances by historical figures including Christopher Columbus (1492)
and the pioneer David Boal (1789).
Everyone in the community is invited to this unique blend of people,
place and event. Single persons also are encouraged to attend, says
Lee, himself a single parent. In addition to champagne and fine hors
d'oeuvres from area restaurants, there will be contra-dancing under
the instruction of Bruce Young and his band, the Gnutones.
Tickets at $75
per person and benefit both the Boalsburg 200th and the museum's non-profit mission - heritage
education, historic preservation and community involvement.
To finish the long weekend, on Monday, October
13, the state chaplain
for the Knights of Columbus will say the annual Columbus Day Mass
at the historic Columbus Chapel on the Boal Estate. The small chapel
has been in the family of Christopher Columbus and his descendants
in the Boal family for centuries, first in Spain and since 1909 in
Boalsburg, as a living tribute to the man who started the American
experience that continues today.
For more information or to reserve Ball tickets, contact the Boal
Mansion Museum at (814) 466-6210, PO Box 116 Boalsburg PA 16827 or
email office@boalmuseum.com