Boalsburg Weekend Celebrates Our Beginnings October 8-10, 2011
But 1776 Captain David Boal in No Longer Invited
Nobody throws a birthday party quite like Boalsburg. The historic Pennsylvania village will celebrate the heritage not only of its own birthday of October 1808 but also of the beginning of America itself in October 1492, thanks to Boalsburg’s unique-in-the-nation connection with Christopher Columbus in the Columbus Chapel at the Boal Mansion Museum.
Boalsburg’s big weekend of October 8 will feature an elegant champagne ball Saturday at the Boal Mansion, and a colorful afternoon festival Sunday in the village with free wagon tours of the historic village, music by local music masters John “JT Blues” Thompson, traditionalist Bruce Young, harmonica expert Richard Sleigh and rocker Chris Lee; food, crafts and even a BMX bike stunt show for the youngsters. The weekend concludes on Monday morning with the traditional invitation-only religious service in the internationally-renowned Columbus Chapel.
Boalsburg’s Columbus Chapel was inherited and imported to Boalsburg in 1909 by descendants of the famous explorer in the Boal family. The centuries-old Spanish chapel contains fine art, the Admiral’s Desk of Christopher Columbus and two pieces of the True Cross of Jesus. It is America's strongest connection with Christopher Columbus whose world-changing voyage of discovery opened the door from the Old World to the New World in October 1492.
The public is invited to share in the festivities, which will include historical re-enactors bringing the heritage to life at both Saturday’s and Sunday’s events.
But one person has been booted from the event – Revolutionary War Captain David Boal. Once thought to be the first generation of the Boal family of Boalsburg, recent research from primary sources has pruned him from the Boal family tree. Even though he did exist, he is no longer associated with Boalsburg’s history.
Fortunately, there was another David Boal, also a pioneer, the one who built the 1804 tavern around which the village of Boalsburg was established in 1809 and whose seven generations of descendants have had a hand in shaping today’s community. His descendants include a founder of Penn State University and of the nearby 28th division Shrine, site of the Boal Troop of World War I fame.
Seventh generation Boal family member, Boal Mansion Museum CEO Christopher Lee, will oversee the events for the weekend. He is a founder of the heritage movement in Boalsburg which has rescued the village from its neglected status in the 1960s to its national renown as a top example of a typical Pennsylvania village with a unique identity as the birthplace of Memorial Day and the home of the Columbus Chapel.
The Columbus Ball takes place at the Boal Mansion at 7:30 pm on Saturday, October 8, 2011, and features contra-dancing to the Bruce Young band, portrait photography by Eric Smith, champagne and fine food from over a dozen Centre Region restaurants. Tickets are $100 and are available by contacting office@boalmuseum.com or calling 814-466-9266.
The Boalsburg Birthday Heritage Festival is all free, including the wagon rides, and takes place in the Boalsburg square at Church and Main Streets on Sunday, October 9, 2011, from Noon to 4 pm. The Monday religious service is by invitation due to space constraints of the historic Columbus Chapel.
For details, visit http://boalmuseum.com or contact (814) 466-9266 or office@boalmuseum.com or the Facebook.com page "Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum".
Boalsburg’s big weekend of October 8 will feature an elegant champagne ball Saturday at the Boal Mansion, and a colorful afternoon festival Sunday in the village with free wagon tours of the historic village, music by local music masters John “JT Blues” Thompson, traditionalist Bruce Young, harmonica expert Richard Sleigh and rocker Chris Lee; food, crafts and even a BMX bike stunt show for the youngsters. The weekend concludes on Monday morning with the traditional invitation-only religious service in the internationally-renowned Columbus Chapel.
Boalsburg’s Columbus Chapel was inherited and imported to Boalsburg in 1909 by descendants of the famous explorer in the Boal family. The centuries-old Spanish chapel contains fine art, the Admiral’s Desk of Christopher Columbus and two pieces of the True Cross of Jesus. It is America's strongest connection with Christopher Columbus whose world-changing voyage of discovery opened the door from the Old World to the New World in October 1492.
The public is invited to share in the festivities, which will include historical re-enactors bringing the heritage to life at both Saturday’s and Sunday’s events.
But one person has been booted from the event – Revolutionary War Captain David Boal. Once thought to be the first generation of the Boal family of Boalsburg, recent research from primary sources has pruned him from the Boal family tree. Even though he did exist, he is no longer associated with Boalsburg’s history.
Fortunately, there was another David Boal, also a pioneer, the one who built the 1804 tavern around which the village of Boalsburg was established in 1809 and whose seven generations of descendants have had a hand in shaping today’s community. His descendants include a founder of Penn State University and of the nearby 28th division Shrine, site of the Boal Troop of World War I fame.
Seventh generation Boal family member, Boal Mansion Museum CEO Christopher Lee, will oversee the events for the weekend. He is a founder of the heritage movement in Boalsburg which has rescued the village from its neglected status in the 1960s to its national renown as a top example of a typical Pennsylvania village with a unique identity as the birthplace of Memorial Day and the home of the Columbus Chapel.
The Columbus Ball takes place at the Boal Mansion at 7:30 pm on Saturday, October 8, 2011, and features contra-dancing to the Bruce Young band, portrait photography by Eric Smith, champagne and fine food from over a dozen Centre Region restaurants. Tickets are $100 and are available by contacting office@boalmuseum.com or calling 814-466-9266.
The Boalsburg Birthday Heritage Festival is all free, including the wagon rides, and takes place in the Boalsburg square at Church and Main Streets on Sunday, October 9, 2011, from Noon to 4 pm. The Monday religious service is by invitation due to space constraints of the historic Columbus Chapel.
For details, visit http://boalmuseum.com or contact (814) 466-9266 or office@boalmuseum.com or the Facebook.com page "Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum".
Persons from Boalsburg's and America's past and present will speak at the street party and/or the evening ball, including, right to left, the pioneer David Boal (portrayed by his descendant, Pittsburgh broadcaster Alan Boal), Christopher Columbus (Bruce Young) and seventh generation Boal family member Christopher Lee.
The Sunday festival includes free wagon rides from the village to the Boal Mansion with a guided tour of the historic sites along the way.
Blues harmonica expert Richard Sleigh will perform with a top flight slate of musicians including award-winning blues pianist John "JT Blues" Thompson, folklorist Bruce young and rocker Chris Lee throughout the afternoon festival on Sunday.
A BMX bike stunt show will be provided by Brian Cunningham of Dialed Action Sports as part of the festivities on Sunday, October 9.
