Board Members
Charles “Bud” Graham
Ginny Landis
Sarah Ebken Marcon
Cheryl Markley
Charles Nydegger
Debra Nydegger
Heather Ricker-Gilbert
William “Bill” Smith
Molly Mann Zeigler
Annette Yorks
Heather Ricker-Gilbert
2022
Elizabeth Ritter
2020 – 2021
Janice McElhoe
2018 – 2020
Bud Graham
2012 – 2018
Ann Harpster
1998-2007, 2011-2012
Earl Kesler
2008-2010
Ruth Kistler
1997
Doci McCormick
1997
Darlene Weener
1996
Bob Potter
1993-1995
No President Elected
1992
Ann Layng
1991
Dee Wallace
1990
The Boalsburg Heritage Museum Association was founded at a meeting held at Duffy’s Tavern on September 28, 1982.
The goal of the meeting was to establish an historic museum and the first Board of Directors included Ron Coder, Ruth Corter, Anne Riley, Fern Hess, and Elinor Green. Subsequently, Ken Tennis, Jeff Biddle, and Stuart Frost were named as members by the Boalsburg Conservancy. Ruth Corter was President, Stuart Frost was Vice President, Ron Coder served as Treasurer, and Elinor Green, Secretary. Since that time, the volunteers and donors in the community have supported the BHM Association. In 1983, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Aikens purchased the Sweet House on the corner of Loop Road and Main Street and deeded it to the Museum as a gift. In 1997, Mrs. Ruth Corter left a significant portion of her estate to the Museum. Exhibits, lectures, social events, and school field trips fulfill the stated purpose of the museum – to promote awareness of the rich heritage of Boalsburg and the surrounding community.
A Village Tradition Since 1864
Located just off Route 322 in Centre County, Pennsylvania, Boalsburg is “An American Village – Birthplace of Memorial Day.”
It all began in October 1864, near the end of the American Civil War, when a young teenage girl named Emma Hunter – along with her friend Sophie Keller – gathered some garden flowers to place on the grave of Emma’s father, Dr. Reuben Hunter (a surgeon in the Union army). That same day, an older woman, Mrs. Elizabeth Meyer, chose to scatter flowers on the grave of her son, Amos, who was a private in the Battle at Gettysburg. These women spoke of their memories and made a pact to meet again the following year to honor their loved ones as well as others who died in the war who no longer had anyone left to mourn them. In the ensuing months, Emma, Sophie, and Elizabeth shared their plan with friends and neighbors. On July 4, 1865, all of Boalsburg gathered along with a clergyman, Dr. George Hall, to make sure no grave was left undecorated.
This day of remembering became a tradition held annually in Boalsburg. Slowly, the neighboring communities also began observing “Decoration Day” each Spring. On May 5, 1868 (four years after that first meeting in the Boalsburg burial ground) General John A. Logan, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued an order. He named May 30, 1868 as a day “for the purpose of comrades who died in defense of their country.” Ever since, Boalsburg has held Memorial Day ceremonies every year to remember those who fought in wars and their loved ones who supported and honored their service.
