This page courtesy of the Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum
Memorial Day festivities take place Monday, May 25, 2009.
For additional Boalsburg 200th activities, click here.
Press release:
Boalsburg Plans Annual Memorial Day Celebration
Photo caption:
(
Boalsburg is widely known as the birthplace of Memorial Day. The first celebration was held in 1864, when three townswomen gathered in the cemetery to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. The tradition is now carried on by local Girl Scout Troop 1184.
In addition, activities celebrating Boalsburg’s 200th birthday will include a historic house tour on May 24 and publications about the earliest land records of Boalsburg and with early Boalsburg photos.
Throughout the day, nearly 20,000 visitors will have a chance to
spend a day in town, tempting their taste buds with local foods and shopping for
wares from artisans from across the Northeast. Three museums – the
The day kicks off with a Fun Run at
For a complete list of events, please visit, www.boalmuseum.com/memorialday.village.htm, or phone (814) 466-9266.
Special note:
Most activities are Monday, May 25, but there is a special Historic House Tour on Sunday, May 24, from 1 to 4 pm. Tickets $10 benefit the Boalsburg 200th and are available on the square and at the Boal Mansion Museum at the time of the event. There is a free street party May 24 on the square from 4 to 6 pm with music by the JR Mangan band following the historic house tour. Come to Boalsburg to appreciate the past and then live in the moment!
Quick click directory:
For full schedule of events for Boalsburg on Memorial Day Monday, May 25, 2009 and the special historic house tour on Sunday, May 24, click here
For information on Boalsburg Village Conservancy, sponsor of Memorial Day events, click here
For Boal Mansion Museum web site, click here
Boalsburg, Pennsylvania: Birthplace of Memorial Day
2009 Boalsburg Memorial Day Activities
Directory of this page (click on item for details):
It was an early fall day in 1864 when Emma Hunter and her friend, Sophie Keller, picked flowers and went to the old cemetery to lay them on the grave of Emma’s father, Reuben Hunter. Dr. Hunter was a young Boalsburg doctor at the time of the Civil War. When he volunteered to serve with the Army of the North, he was assigned to the hospital in Baltimore. In addition to attending the wounded soldiers, he also cared for the men who had contracted yellow fever while fighting in the southern swamplands. Dr. Hunter became ill and died of yellow fever and his body was buried in the Boalsburg cemetery.
On their way the two young girls met Mrs. Elizabeth Myers whose young son, Amos, had been killed the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg and was buried in the old cemetery.
Photo right: Civil War re-enactors fire a salute at the Boalsburg Memorial Day Service as Boy Scouts watch.
Learning where the girls were going, Mrs. Myers asked to join them. They shared the flowers and placed them on both graves. It was decided then that they would meet the following year with flowers for all who had died in the Civil War. The three young women told their friends of the plans and when the day came ‘round, most of the villagers joined them.
From that simple beginning came the observance of Memorial Day in Boalsburg. Every year since then, the people have met on the Diamond in Boalsburg Square for the walk to the old cemetery to lay flowers on the graves of all the soldier dead. They are led by a home town band and all ages join in the walk and participate in the simple service of remembering.
In 1864 three ladies from
the village of Boalsburg walked to the village cemetery to decorate the graves
of loved ones who had died in the on going Civil War. This simple act of
remembering, which then became a local tradition, ultimately became the national
holiday of Memorial Day. This year Boalsburg will continue the tradition it
started 145 years ago when it celebrates A Day in Towne Memorial Day
Festival on Monday, May 25, 2009. This year’s celebration will
include music, food, crafts, and exhibits in Boalsburg village and at the Boal
Mansion Museum. Boalsburg’s history will also be celebrated with tours of the
Boal Mansion Museum and the Boalsburg Heritage Museum.
The Maypole Dance led by the Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop will take place at 12:30 pm on the Diamond. There will also be a North-South Civil War skirmish twice during the day at the Boal Mansion Museum.
The highlight of A Day in Towne will be the traditional 6:00pm Service. This service is an expression of the community’s gratitude to all those who have contributed to the defense of our country and those who have served the community of Boalsburg and Harris Township. The service gets underway at 5:45 pm with the walk from the Diamond to the cemetery. The Service starts at 6:00 pm. John Wainright, president of the Boalsburg Village Conservancy, will be this year’s Master of Ceremonies. Rev. Ann Graves of Boalsburg’s United Church of Christ will give the invocation. The Heritage Singers will sing several patriotic songs while Boy Scout Troop 380 will present the national colors. The Service will also feature the Boalsburg Fireman’s Memorial and two Civil War reenactment groups: Battery B, 3rd Pennsylvania Light Artillery and Company C, 148th Pennsylvania Infantry. This year’s speaker will be Christopher Lee. Mr. Lee is a Harris Township supervisor, past president of the Boalsburg Village Conservancy, chair of the Boalsburg 200th, CEO of the Boal Mansion Museum, and the eighth generation of the Boal family to live in the Boal Mansion. His topic will be “Boalsburg: 200 years of Community and a Vision for the Future”. Following Mr. Lee’s address, the soldiers’ graves will be decorated. The Heritage Singers performance and Rev. Graves’s closing prayer will conclude the service.
Memorial Day on Church and Main Streets
Memorial Day activities will provide just about anything event-goers can imagine. From 9:00 am to 5:00 pm there will be craft sales and demonstrations along Church and Main Streets, with 80 dealers on Main and 25 more on Church Street participating. Demonstrations include chair caning, whittling, wood-working and jewelry making. Village shops and restaurants in the Diamond area will be open during their normal hours, as will the restaurants on nearby Boal Avenue.
Harris Township’s service organizations will hold food sales featuring special food items and baked goods. Contact Margie Tennis at 466-6311.
~SPECIAL Notes ~
Remember! the Boalsburg Fire company carnival is May 21, 22, 23 & 25 (closed Sunday). The parade is on Saturday at 5pm
VILLAGE RESIDENTS ARE ASKED TO HAVE ALL PARKED VEHICLES REMOVED from EAST and WEST MAIN STREETS by 5:00 am, MONDAY, May 25. Please: DO NOT PARK IN DOWNTOWN BOALSBURG AND DO NOT DRIVE DOWN CHURCH STREET DURING FESTIVIES. YOUR COOPERATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
PLEASE: NO PETS, BIKES, OR SKATEBOARDS IN THE VILLAGE DURING FESTIVITIES.
RECYCLING BINS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE VILLAGE DIAMOND AREA
Vital Information on Street Closings, Parking, Conveniences
Closed Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday (May 21-23, May 25): East Pine Street, from Church Street to Academy Street, is closed for the Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival, starting at 5:30 pm each day of the Carnival and opening when it closes. Parking is PROHIBITED on both sides of Old Boalsburg Rd. during the Boalsburg Fire Co. Carnival.
Sunday, May 24, W. Main Street from the square to Tennis Alley is closed from 11 am to 7 pm for the Boalsburg 200th historic house tour and street party.
Monday, Memorial Day - May 25: The following streets are closed from 6:30 am. – 5:00 pm. Rockey Alley, Loop Road, from Chambers Alley to East Main Street, Main Street, beginning east from Bus. Rt. 322 to Tennis Alley, Academy Street, from Chambers Alley across E. Main to Pine Street, Church Street, from Chambers Alley to Bus. Rt.322, Pine Street, from Bus. Rt. 322 to Tennis Alley and Old Boalsburg Road, between N. Church St. to the Boal Mansion. From 5:30 pm until the end of service, Church St. between Old Boalsburg Rd. and Rt. 322 also will be closed.
PARKING and SHUTTLE BUS INFORMATION:
Free Parking is available at a number of locations served by the Shuttle Bus, including the Medical Center, Heritage Run Office Building, and across from the Car Wash on Business Rt. 322 East. There is a charge for parking on the Military Museum grounds and on the Boal Estate Grounds.
The Shuttle Bus will run at approximately 20-minute intervals, stopping near each parking lot to pick up passengers. Shuttles will make three stops on Bus. Rt. 322 to discharge passengers: Boal Mansion, North Church Street at the traffic light, and East Main St. There is no charge to ride the Shuttle Bus.
Please Remember: No vehicles will be allowed in most of the Village.
A Handicap Parking Only Site is available in the front of the Tennis Lamp Shop, which is across from the Kwik Fill gas station. Please make sure your placard is displayed.
THE INFORMATION BOOTH is located on the Diamond. Maps and lists of activities are available at the Information Booth, as well as at locations throughout the Village area.
RESTROOM and HANDICAP RESTROOM FACILITIES are available at various locations in town, including Zion Lutheran Church.
The Boalsburg Village Conservancy Welcomes You
The Boalsburg Village Conservancy welcomes everyone to Boalsburg this Memorial Day. The Conservancy will sponsor a booth located on the Boalsburg’s Diamond where literature and memorabilia about Boalsburg will be sold. As usual, the Conservancy will organize the 5:45 p.m. Walk to the Cemetery and the 6:00 p.m. Service, which is the focus of our Memorial Day celebration. This year’s speaker at the 6:00 p.m. Service will be Christopher Lee, a Harris Township supervisor, former president of the Conservancy and a descendant of some of the earliest residents of Boalsburg.
The Conservancy was founded in 1973 as a civic organization dedicated to preserving the historic resources of the Boalsburg village and Harris Township and also dedicated to stimulating awareness of the area’s historic past. To this end The Conservancy has helped organize several events to celebrate Boalsburg’s 200th birthday celebration. See an article elsewhere in this publication for details of past 200th events and upcoming 200th events. Committees of the Conservancy also organize this A Day in Towne Memorial Day Festival, the Multicultural Heritage Festival in October and Hometown Christmas in December. Also, the Conservancy has just reprinted a very successful history brochure about Boalsburg and will be installing two additional street lights on village streets. For more information about the Conservancy or to join, please stop by our booth on the Diamond or visit our website http://boalmuseum.com/bvc.htm or contact John Wainright at 814 466 7813.
26TH ANNUAL FRUIT PIE CONTEST
For individuals grade 6 through adult. The Conservancy will have a booth on the Diamond and all pies should be delivered to this booth before 11:00 AM in disposable containers. Monday there is no parking in the Village after 6:30 AM so use Loop Road and Chambers Alley. For more information please call Darlene Bachman at 466-7453.
The Boalsburg Heritage Museum – 304 East Main Street
The Boalsburg Heritage Museum will be open and once again be offering soup and bread as part of its Annual Soup Sale on Memorial Day. Ham and bean and vegetable soup will be on sale. All of the food is donated and prepared by community members. The proceeds benefit the Boalsburg Heritage Museum. Soup should be ready for sale by 10:30 am and will be available through 3:30 pm, or until gone. Heritage Museum members: expect a call asking for a donation of either a vegetable soup or loaf of bread. Drop off soup and bread behind the township building after 6:30 am. Be sure to put your name on any container you would like to have returned. We also need people to prepare and serve the soup. Help at the kettles is always welcome.
The Museum will welcome visitors from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. In recognition of the Village’s Bicentennial, we are pleased to present a selection of special exhibits: Boalsburg: Celebrating 200 Years of Community. Within the gallery, space is devoted to three topics, including Al Gingrich—Last Blacksmith in Boalsburg; The Tennis County Store, with selected items on display; and Boalsburg and the Civil War, with posters, photos and text. Upstairs a new “Children’s Space” features antique toys, clothing, and Virginia, the doll that belonged to Sarah Sweet’s sister. The schoolroom has been refurbished. There are newly acquired artifacts, and a scale model of the old Boalsburg School. Hand crafted by Gert Aron, the replica portrays the school building that served residents for many years. The fire hall now stands on the location.
9th Annual Essay Writing Contest
The Boalsburg Conservancy and Boalsburg Heritage Museum are co-sponsoring the 9th Annual Writing Contest for Harris Township school children. Essays will be read at the Boalsburg Heritage Museum on East Main at 12:30 pm, with the “Best of the Best” recognized during the Cemetery Service. Contest winners will be awarded U.S. Savings Bonds. Call Barbara Grignano at 466-6903 for more information.
Boal Mansion Activities Include Civil War Battle
Open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm., the mansion will feature a family picnic and music party all day under the ancient oak and maple trees on the lawn of the 1789 home of the pioneer David Boal and eight generations of his descendants. A wide variety of music, from bluegrass to blues and from rock to jazz will play throughout the day and visitors are invited to bring a picnic and blanket and relax on the spacious lawn of the Boal Mansion. Scattered throughout the site will be food, music, crafts, a Revolutionary War surgeon and two Civil War encampments – Confederate artillery and Union infantry.
New and special for the children is the Dominion Science Center, an interactive blend of art and science located in the east garden of the Boal Estate. Once again this year the popular Civil War battle will take place on the pond field of the Boal Estate.
A
Confederate artillery troop will square off against a Union infantry company on
the pond field of the Boal Mansion Museum, as Hampton’s Legion Artillery takes
on Company C of the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry at 10 AM
and 1:30 PM.
At 1 PM on the porch of the Boal Mansion, there will be special music selections, and then three service awards will be given to community members deserving of recognition: The Ambassador Pierre Boal Award for Historic Preservation to Arthur Curtze; the Colonel Theodore Davis Boal Award for Community Service to John Wainright; and the Judge George Boal Award for Education to Grace Bardine
Visitors are also welcome to come inside the 220-year-old Boal Mansion with the original furnishings of nine generations of Boals and through the Columbus Chapel inherited and imported from Spain in 1909 containing Christopher Columbus’ Admiral’s Desk, and fine European oil paintings. The community is invited to come picnic all day, listen to the old/new/original music by young and old musicians from the ongoing Family Music Party, and to share in honoring the community volunteers at the awards ceremony at 1:15 PM.
Call for volunteers: Volunteer museum guides ages 14 to 84 are sought to bring history to life for children and visitors to the Boal Mansion. Guide orientation and free tour are offered. For information contact Chris Lee at 466-6210 or office@boalmuseum.com or see http://www.boalmuseum.com/docent.htm
“A DAY IN TOWNE”
MONDAY, May 25, 2009
ON THE DIAMOND – MAIN & CHURCH STREETS
8:30 am Blue Spring Park: Start – “Run for Fun”
8:00 am – 11:00 am Pies accepted for 25th Annual Fruit Pie Contest
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Village Shops Open
Sidewalk Sales: Crafts, Foods, Beverages
9:00 am – 9:45 am The Collins Family Band
10:15 am – 11:15 am State College High School Jazz Band
11:45 am – 12:45 pm Little German Band
12:30 pm Maypole Dance led by the Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm The Deacons of Dixieland
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Second Winds Jazz Band
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Heritage Brass
5:45 pm 145th Walk to Boalsburg Cemetery from The Diamond
6:00 pm 145th Cemetery Service
(Will be held inside St. John’s UCC in case of inclement weather)
BOALSBURG HERITAGE MUSEUM - 304 East Main Street
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Museum Open – Museum Tours (no charge) featuring special exhibits: Boalsburg, Celebrating 200 Years of Community
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Essay Contest – Readings
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Dan & Galla, music
HARRIS TOWNSHIP OFFICES, Rear – 224 East Main Street
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Ham & Bean and Vegetable Soups, Homemade Bread Sale
Or until gone
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Blacksmith Shop open; demonstrations by a trained blacksmith
BOALSBURG CEMETERY – Route 322 & Church Street
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Battery B, 3rd PA Volunteers (Civil War Group) and Battery B
Ladies Encampment
6:00 pm 145th Service at Cemetery. Christopher Lee will speak on “Boalsburg: 200 Years of Community and a Vision for the Future”.
BOAL MANSION GROUNDS –300 Old Boalsburg Road
9:00 am Cannonade by Hampton’s Legion Artillery
10:00 Civil War battle between Hampton’s Legion Artillery (Confederate)
and Company C of the 148th PA Volunteer Infantry (Union). On the pond field
10:30 Juniata, bluegrass and traditional music
12:00 pm Christopher Kent, singer/songwriter
1:15 pm Boal Awards Ceremony, on the porch of the Boal Mansion
1:30 Civil War battle between Hampton’s Legion Artillery (Confederate) and
Company C of the 148th PA Volunteer Infantry (Union). On the pond field
2:00 pm Tussey Mountain Moonshiners, bluegrass
3:00 pm Blind Horses (formerly Gypsy Switch), classic rockers from State College High School
5:00 pm Final Cannonade by Hampton’s Legion Artillery
BOALSBURG 200TH ACTIVITIES ON SUNDAY, MAY 24 (NOT MONDAY)
1:00-4:00 pm, May 24 A special Historic House Tour. Tickets are $10 per person available the week
before at the village square shops. For more info contact Katie Ellis, Katie@uoc.com or 814-466-1110
4:00-6:00 pm, May 24 Street party following the house tour in the village square with
refreshments and music by the JR and Natalie Band.
7:00 pm, May 24 Church service at Zion Lutheran Church. Pastor Brent Book will
re-enact a 200 year old service and sermon.
PENNSYLVANIA MILITARY MUSEUM – Route 322 & Boalsburg Pike
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Allegheny Region Antique Automobile Club of America:
Pre-war and classic antique cars on the Shrine parade grounds
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Military Museum Open for Tours (fee)
BOALSBURG 200TH ANNIVERSAY EVENTS
— Christopher Lee, http://boalmuseum.com/200th.htm
A compilation of the studies of historic Boalsburg houses by Penn State history students is being prepared by Bob Cameron to make a walking tour brochure for Memorial Day. Posters will be placed in front of selected houses in the village displaying details about their history. At the 6 pm service on Memorial Day, Christopher Lee will speak on “Boalsburg: 200 Years of Community and a Vision for the Future”. A collection of photos, titled “Boalsburg Then and Now is being prepared by Bill Wallace . Contact him with your old photos. wrw5@psu.edu. An original play by Jerry Sawyer will take place at the Boal Barn Playhouse May 14-16 and 21-23 at 7 pm. Tickets available from the SCCT at www.scctonline.org or 234-7228. Neighborhoods are invited to produce floats on the theme “200 of Neighborhoods” for the Fire Company Parade on Saturday, May 23 at 5 pm. To enter contact Ben Smith of the Fire Company, bensmith431@yahoo.com.
The past will come alive again as the Military Museum hosts its annual Living History program, “World War II Revisited,” Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. The grounds will be transformed into a living history scene from the post D-Day invasion of France, 1944 as we welcome the return of 28th Infantry Division reenactors along with the Austrian 2nd Mountain Division re-enactors, and the public is invited! Visit the bivouac at 10:00 a.m. and stay for the tactical combat demonstration against the Germans scheduled for 1:00 p.m. each day. Folk artists Dan and Galla will entertain the troops and public with a special USO style show at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Holders of a special event brochure will receive a special discount on purchases in the Museum Gift Shop. All events at the bivouac are free to the public.
On Monday, Memorial Day, there will be over 100 pre-war and classic antique cars on the parade grounds of the Shrine. The Allegheny Region Antique Automobile Club of America will celebrate Boalsburg’s 200th birthday with a display of transportation technology throughout the ages. There is a charge for on-site parking on Memorial Day and admission the museum. Please call 466-6263 for more information.
OFF AND RUNNING! - Dan Bright, debright@mqblaw.com
The 29th Annual Memorial Day Run will begin at 8:30 am at Blue Spring Park on West Pine Street. Check-in time is between 7:30 am and 8:00 am at the park. Advance registration will be held Sunday, May 24th from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm at the park. Advance registration cost is
$15.00 and $20.00 on the day of the race. Avoid the hassle and register early! T-shirts are guaranteed to all who register by May 24th. Registration forms may be dropped off at Rapid Transit Sportswear, 115 S. Allen St., in State College. Make checks payable to "MEMORIAL DAY RUN." Be dressed to run; no changing facilities
are available. There is plenty of parking space available at the Military Museum and the Boal Mansion. The race will start at 8:30 am with the firing of the Battery B cannon.
Registration forms are online at http://nvrun.com/apps/2009-Memorial-Day-Run.pdf
Did you know….
Paper plates, paper cups and paper napkins cannot be recycled and do not biodegrade once in the garbage bag so….Compost them!
On Memorial Day…Toss your food waste (no meats) Paper plates cups and napkins and compostable corn plastic in the green labeled composting cans provided by Benjamin's Catering. Let's keep the whole world as beautiful as Boalsburg!
Other Boalsburg Activities (Not on Monday):
Boalsburg Historic House Tour, Village Square, Sunday, May 24, 1 to 4 pm,
Street Party 4-6 pm, Church Service 7 pm at Zion Lutheran Church
Boalsburg Fire Company Parade, 5 pm Saturday, May 23
Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival, Thurs-Monday (but not Sunday), 5/22-5/25, E. Pine Street
This page courtesy of the Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum