BOALSBURG — Centre County treasure hunters don’t need a map to find where “X” marks the spot on Saturday and Sunday. They just need to head toward the southern center of the county and find the Columbus Chapel & Boal Mansion Museum.
There, treasure awaits…
The annual antiques, arts and crafts festival is scheduled Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the museum grounds, 163 Boal Estate Drive, and according to Dr. Robert D. Cameron, executive director, “you’ll never know what you are going to find.”
“We’ve had some really great items surface for this sale over the past few years, and once again, our generous donors have found some true ‘treasures’ for us to help our cause,” Cameron said, citing rare art glass and a 19th century doctor’s buggy as examples. “And, the vendors that come will surely have some unique items and rare antiques for sale. It truly will be a treasure hunter’s paradise.”
The sale is one of several fundraisers for the museum and chapel each year, and, according to Cameron, a very important one.
“We don’t receive state or federal monies to help us, for the most part,” Cameron said. “So, events such as our annual antiques, arts and crafts festival are key to helping us maintain the level of quality visitors to our property expect.”
Cameron said the event wouldn’t be as successful as it is year in and year out if it weren’t for museum supporters who donate items for the nonprofit to sell.
Cameron hinted at some of the items that will be available, noting a 6-foot-tall original chalk drawing from a local artist, a front “Shark Tooth” bumper from an antique Buick thought to have been made in the late 1940s or early 1950s, a Grandmother’s Clock with working Westminster Chime and a rare, 1960s Danish chair valued at $2,000.
He added that several vintage car parts from the era of the above mention Buck will be for sale, as well as art glass valued in the hundreds of dollars, vintage Christmas lights and pottery from McCoy and Roseville.
“And that’s just a sampling,” said Cameron.
The museum will continue to accept donated items, such as books, household items, furniture and more, through July 10. Cameron said staff can make arrangements to pick up large items from donors.
“Treasure,” for some, may come in the way of food available, and Cameron said food and beverages will be available, including blueberry milkshakes made with Meyer’s Dairy ice cream and blueberries picked on the Boal estate.
Visitors can also hike on three miles of public trails and take mini-tours of the museum for a small fee. Acoustic Brew will present a concert by renowned singer-songwriter Van Wagner at 7 p.m. on July 11. Tickets are available online from www.acousticbrew.org.
This story appears in the July 8-14 edition of The Centre County Gazette.
