More than just a holiday in Boalsburg

Stephanie Koons

Memorial Day is more than just another holiday in Boalsburg. The first celebration was held in 1864, when three townswomen gathered in the cemetery to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers.

The tradition, now carried on by Girl Scout Troop 1184, is the basis of Boalsburg’s claim as the birthplace of Memorial Day. The 145th Memorial Day celebration this weekend will feature a couple of added twists, as it is being held in conjunction with Boalsburg’s yearlong 200th anniversary celebration.

For the first time since 1976, a Historic House Tour will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday in Boalsburg. Visitors can tour eight of the village’s earliest houses, including the Boal Mansion, built in 1789, the David Boal Tavern, built in 1804, and six houses in the village built shortly after the founding of historic Boalsburg in 1809.

Visitors can tour the houses in any order, tour organizer Katie Ellis said. The Boal Tavern, she said, functioned as a stopping point for stage coaches to give their horses food and water.

The house tour will be followed by a street party from 4 to 6 p.m. in the village square with music by JR and Natalie Band. The day will finish with a church service at 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 305 N. Church St., at which the Rev. Brent Book will re-enact a 200-year-old service and a sermon written by George Washington, along with leading patriotic hymns.

Proceeds from the house tour will go to the Boalsburg Village Conservancy, which sponsors events such as Hometown Christmas, the Memorial Day festivities and summer street parties.

“It’s a group of active citizens who really care about the history and preserving it,” Ellis said.

Boalsburg’s usual Memorial Day activities will be in full swing on Monday. The day kicks off with a Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. at Blue Spring Park. The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature local musicians, a traditional Maypole dance and local artisans.

Boalsburg Heritage Museum, Boal Mansion and Pennsylvania Military Museum will have activities throughout the day, including encampments and a battle by Civil War re-enactors at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on the Boal Mansion lawn.

The events will be capped off at 6 p.m. with a community address on “Boalsburg: 200 Years of Community and a Vision for the Future” by Christopher Lee, CEO of the Boal Mansion Museum, chairman of the Boalsburg 200th celebration and a Harris Township supervisor.

Tickets for the house tour can be purchased the day of the event for $10 at stores in the village square or at the homes. For more information, contact Ellis at katie@uoc.com or 466-1110. Or visit www. boalmuseum.com/memorialday.village.htm.

Stephanie Koons writes about news and events in the Centre Region. She can be reached at 235-3927 or skoons@centredaily.com.