Federal grant will help preserve history

Boal Mansion to get $150,000 for repairs, restoration

By Anne Danahy, Centre Daily Times, May 27, 2006

The Boal Mansion Museum lets visitors look into the past, but that doesn't stop time from tarnishing the historic landmark.

Now, $150,000 in federal funding will help pay for repairs and restoration to the mansion and the Columbus Chapel, according to the office of U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pleasantville.

"This is very good news for Boalsburg and Centre County," said museum CEO Chris Lee. "What we're preserving here is internationally recognized heritage."

CDT photos by Sean Steffen : Left, The Boal Mansion, built in 1789, will get a $150,000 federal grant to help pay for repairs at the local landmark and museum. Right: Guide Jermaine Quinton, far left, answers questions as Pat Derendinger, Barbara Black, Karl Glessner and Ed Derendinger tour the Columbus Chapel during their visit to the Boal Mansion.

David Boal built the mansion in 1789. As Lee noted, that was before there was a Boalsburg or Penn State. Boal's grandson, George Boal, helped found the university.

In 1909, the family brought the Columbus Chapel from Spain to Boalsburg, where it gives visitors a chance to see historic art, family documents dating back to the 15th century and what is thought to be a desk owned by Christopher Columbus.

Lee said the museum has to match the $150,000 grant, and there have been good indications from local business leaders that will happen.

"It's very encouraging to see the public part of the public-private partnership stepping up to the plate," he said. "Now we need the local part of that support to step up to the plate."

Lee said the museum is in need of about $400,000 worth of repairs, starting with replacing the mansion's roof and repairing the foundation of the pioneer cabin section where David Boal lived. After that, the priorities are repairing and painting the wood trim and windows of the Columbus Chapel, painting the mansion, refurbishing the outdoor lighting and repairing the landscape architecture. The Pennsylvania Knights of Columbus already repaired part of the stone path to the chapel, and the goal is completing that project.

Lee said the goals come from an architectural conservation plan that was done about 15 years ago with support from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

He said this will be the first time the mansion has received federal support, although it did get money from the state a few years ago to help pay for rewiring. Lee said he worked with Peterson, who secured the funding.

To find out more about supporting restoration of the Boal Mansion, contact Lee at 466-9266 or chris@boalmuseum.com.